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University of Illinois Library 

































































pnts OF THREE ENGLIsi yp 
THREE RUSSIANS 


IN SOUTH AFRICA. 


4 ANNEMAKES, ik 
| 
) 








Pep PRPY 


MERIDIANA: © 


THE ADVENTURES 
THREE ENGLISHMEN 4 THREE RUSSIANS 
SOUTH eee 


Translated from the French. With numerous Illustrations. 


NEW YORK: 
SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & CO., 
6B4 BROADWAY. 

1874. 


New Books by Tules Verne. 








A JOURNEY TO THE MOON 


A ae AROUND | a ee 


80 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. 
AVOk: S¥o,;.<*" - - Price $3.00. 





A JOURN EY 
TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH 


54 ILLUSTRATIONS. 


4S V 593 
Jav.E 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER I. 


ON THE BANKS OF THE ORANGE RIVER ° 


CHAPTER II. 
x OFFICIAL PRESENTATIONS é ; a ‘ 
aS CHAPTER III. 


=) THE LAND JOURNEY . ° eae ee ° 


yee CHAPTER IV. 

oe A FEW WoRDS ABOUT THE ‘*‘ METRE” - 
=~ 

CHAPTER V. 

‘ A spate VILLAGE Oe ere RNY 

: _ CHAPTER VI. 

eee ACQUAINTANCE 7 iS . . 

iv 
A CHAPTER VII. 
3 THE BASE OF THE ree neie P a 


HE TWENTY-FOURTH MERIDIAN 


aa 177/68 


Mee (8 he 


CHAPTER VIII. 


PAGE 


iv CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE KRAAL. es - < = ; “ 


CHAPTER X. 


THE RAPID. 3 : 4 : - % 


CHAPTER XI. 


A MISSING COMPANION A - AS " 


CHAPTER XII. 


A STATION TO SIR JOHN’S LIKING 


CHAPTER XIII. 


PACIFICATION BY FIRE ‘ : . 


CHAPTER XIV. 


A DECLARATION OF WAR . “ 5 . 


CHAPTER XV. 


A GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION 7 ; P 


CHAPTER XVL 


DANGER IN DISGUISE . SAS ° e 


CHAPTER XVII. 


AN UNEXPECTED BLIGHT . : . : 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


’ THE DESERT ; A Ps ‘ és 


CHAPTER XIX. 


SCIENCE UNDAUNTED . ° p ; : 


PAGE 


76 


89 


96 


106 


117 


127 


136 


146 


154 


167 


- 179 


CONTENTS. Vv 


CHAPTER -XX, 


; PAGE 
STANDING A SIEGE . é . ° ° ° e oe e e 189 


SUSPENSE , A A : : ‘ ; e - mn - e 200 
HIDE AND SEEK . a x ’ : A e ® ° e . 211 


CHAPTER XXIIL 


HOMEWARD BOUND , ° ’ ’ 2 ° ° 9 ° ~ 228 


AL 


* 


Races Fes ic} 


PEBTAST PS 





EIst. OF ILLUSTRA TIONS. 


PAGE 

FRONTISPIECE. 
Wiliamslmery andthe’ Bashwwan,) «9 oa ve kee ok ke on ae 
_ At length an exclamation of the Bushman made his heart beat ° . 18 
Meeting of Members of the Expedition . : ° : ° . « 220 


“‘The Hunter Mokoum,” said William Emery, presenting his Com-_ 

: panion . oh : ° : wa ed 
All these Objects were Restated on es Bead . ° ° . «226 
The Mission Home Establishment . : ‘ ° . ° ° - 44 
Chief Moulibahan . - ‘ M ‘ s a : . ° « 406 
William Emery and Michael Zorn in advance of the Expedition ° - 53 
The Bushman pointing to the Plain Si Se . . : ° - 58 
Commencement of the Geodesic Operations . Saas . ° OF 
Measuring the Arc of the Meridian ° . . . : . <* 69 
Taking the Measurements . ° ° : ° ea ° . 69 


The Astronomers at Work . ° ° e ° . ‘ ° Rees (> 
Encampment under an immense Baobab ° : eeas P ot Fh 
The Hunters . : WR ANE gra arctan ae Shin, | ao ea N06) 
The Flephant and the as ae he ° ae ° ° ° OO 
‘* He is ours! he is ours!” . ° : ° : Ne Yee “2 OT 
The Hippopotamus did not quit his hold, but shook the Boat as a Dog 
would a Hare : : : : * . ° ° » 95 
- There he i is,” cried Micka . . ; * ° e e - 103 
A missing Companion , : ° ° . . : : ° . 104 
It was a deep Grotto, strewn with Bones and stained with Blood . . 112 
The Entrance to the Lion’s Den . ee oye : . . ° «i112 
A Ball from the Bushman arrested the Lioness A ° : NIRS «15 


** Well,” said Mokoum, ‘‘ I hope you like our African Partridges” - 116 


Vili LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 
Sir John was soon asleep ee ke ° ° . ° ° ° « 124 
The Forest on Fire : . . . eae t 25 
‘* War is declared between England and Russia” : ° ° . eee: 
The Parting of Emery and Zorn. ‘ : ; . . : <2t35 
‘‘ The Rhinoceros !” exclaimed Sir John . ‘ A 4 4 + 141 
The Advance of the Caravan . . : ° . . 148 
The Hunters glided through the pla and Binshaond ° : - I5! 
The empty Oryx Skin. : : : : ‘ 3 ease 


Emery and two Natives struck by t yehning ; ; : : : . 158 
A strange Cloud . 5 ; : - . a ° . : LOE 
Crossing the Desert f : : ; ; 3 ; : ; » 169 
**The Ngami! the Ngami!” ° F : ° ° « 172 
The English come to the relief of the Riscahs : : . . ~ £75 
On Guard on Mount Scorzef . 3 ~ . . ; y P . 189 


An Attack on Mount Scorzef $ : : 5 . é ‘ 193 
The Rice of the Bochjesmen . . . . . : - 196 
Watching for the Signal from Mount Volquiria . ° : ° . 204 
The Steamboat leaving Mount Scorzef . % . . : . Pied ca 
Palander robbed by the Chacma . ‘ ° . oie ns . + 217 
Palander’s Combat with the Chacma . : - ee . aie eee 
Descending the Zambesi : : : : : : , ° . 229 
Adieuto Mokoum.  . . | thet tigi Phe ates cas. Pes Bay 


The Natives recarded with superstitious admiration the smoking vessel . 230 


MERIDIANA; 


THE ADVENTURES OF THREE ENGLISHMEN 
AND THREE RUSSIANS. 





CHAPTER I. 


ON THE BANKS OF THE ORANGE RIVER. 


ON the 27th of January, 1854, two men lay stretched at 
the foot of an immense weeping willow, chatting, and at 
the same time watching most attentively the waters of the 
Orange River. This river, the Groote of the Dutch, and 
the Gariep of the Hottentots, may well vie with the other 
three great arteries of Africa—the Nile, the Niger, and the 
Zambesi. Like those, it has its periodical risings, its rapids 
and cataracts. Travellers whose names are known over 
part of its course, Thompson, Alexander, and Burchell, 
have each in their turn praised the clearness of its waters, 
and the beauty of its shores. 

cit this point the river, as it approaclied the Duke of 

B 


2 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


York Mountains, offered a magnificent spectacle to the 
view. Insurmountable rocks, imposing masses of stone, 
and trunks of trees that had become mineralized by the 
_ action of the weather, deep caverns, impenetrable forests, 
not yet disturbed by the settler’s axe, all these, shut in by 
2 background formed by the mountains of the Gariep, made 
up a scene matchless in its magnificence. There, too, the 
_ waters of the river, on account of the extreme narrowness 
of their bed, and the sudden falling away of the soil, rushed 
down from a height of 400 feet. Above the fall there were 
only surging sheets of water, broken here and there by 
points of rock wreathed with green boughs; below, there 
was only a dark whirlpool of tumultuous waters, crowned 
with a thick cloud of damp vapour, and striped with all 
the colours of the rainbow.. From this gulf there arose a 
deafening roar, increased and varied by the echoes of the 
valley. 
Of these two men, who had evidently been brought into 
this part of South Africa by the chances of an exploration, 
one lent only a vague attention to the beauties of nature 
that were opened to his view. This indifferent traveller was 
a hunting bushman, a fine type of that brave, bright-eyed, . 
rapidly-gesticulating race of men, who lead a wandering life 
in the woods. Bushman, a word derived from the Dutch 
“ Bochjesman,” is literally “a man of the bushes,” and is 
applied to the wandering tribes that scour the country in 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 3 
the N.w. of Cape Colony. Nota family of these bushmen 
is sedentary ; they pass their lives in roaming over the re- 
gion lying between the Orange River and the mountains of 
the East, in pillaging farms, and in destroying the crops of 
the overbearing colonists, by whom they have been driven 
back towards the interior of the country, where more rocks 
than plants abound. 

This bushman, a man of about forty years of age, was 
very tall, and evidently possessed great muscular strength, 
for even when at rest his body presented the attitude of 
action. The clearness, ease, and freedom of his movements 
stamped him as an energetic character, a man cast in the 
same mould as the celebrated “ Leather-stocking,” the hero 
of the Canadian prairies, though perhaps possessing less 
calmness than Cooper’s favourite hunter, as could be seen 
by the transient deepening of colour in his face, whenever he 
was animated by any unusual emotion. 

The bushman was no longer a savage like the rest of his 
race, the ancient Laquas; for, born of an English father 
and a Hottentot mother, the half-breed, through his associa- 
tion with strangers, had gained more than he had lost, and 
_spoke the paternal tongue fluently. His costume, half- 
Hottentot, half-European, consisted of a red flannel shirt, 
a loose coat and breeches of antelope hide, and leggings 
‘made of the skin of a wild cat; from his neck hung a little 
bag containing a_knife, a pipe, and some tobacco; he wore 

B 2 


4 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


on his head a kind of skull-cap of sheep-skin ; a belt, made 
from the thick thong of some wild animal, encircled his 
waist; and on his naked wrists were rings of ivory, 
wrought with remarkable skill. From his shoulders flowed 
a “kross,’ a kind of hanging mantle, cut out of a tiger’s 
skin, and falling as low as the knees. A dog of native 
breed was sleeping near him, while he himself was smoking 
a bone pipe in quick puffs, giving unequivocal signs of im- 
patience. 

“Come, let’s be calm, Mokoum,” said his interlocutor. 
“You are truly the most impatient of mortals whenever 
you are-not hunting ; but do understand, my worthy com- | 
panion, that we can’t change what is. Those whom we 
are expecting will come sooner or later—to-morrow, it 
not to-day.” 

The bushman’s companion was a young man, from twenty- 
five to twenty-six years of age, and quite a contrast to him. 
His calm temperament was shown in every action; and it 
could be decided without a moment’s hesitation that he 
was an Englishman. His much too homely costume proved 
him to be unaccustomed to travelling. He gave one the 
idea of a clerk who had wandered into a savage country, 
and one looked involuntarily to see if he carried a pen 
behind his ear, like a cashier, clerk, accountant, or some 
other variety of the great family of the bureaucracy. 

In truth, this young man was not a traveller, ‘but a 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 5. 





distinguished savant, William Emery, an astronomer at- 
tached to the Observatory at the Cape—a useful establish- 
ment, which has for a long time rendered true services to 
science. 

The scholar, rather out of his element, perhaps, in this 
uninhabited region of South Africa, several‘hundred miles 
from Cape Town, could hardly manage to curb the im- 
patience of his companion. 

“Mr. Emery,” replied the hunter in good English, 
“here we have been for eight days at the place appointed 
on the Orange, the cataract of Morgheda. It is indeed 
a long time since it has befallen a member of my 
family to remain eight days in one place: you forget 
that we are rovers, and that our feet burn at lingering 
here.” 

_ “My friend Mokoum,” replied the astronomer, “those 
we are waiting for are coming from England, and surely 
we can allow them eight days of grace:. we must take into 


account the length of the passage, and the hindrances — 


which a steam-vessel must meet with in ascending the 
Orange; and, in short, the thousand difficulties belonging 
to such an undertaking. We have been told to make every 
preparation for a journey of exploration in South Africa, 
and that being done, to come here to the Falls of Morgheda 
and wait for my colleague, Colonel Everest, of the Cam- 
bridge Observatory. Well, here are the Falls of Morgheda, 


6 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


we are at the place appointed, and we are waiting: what 
more do you want, my worthy bushman ?” 

The hunter doubtless did want more, for his fingers 
played feverishly with the lock of his rifle, an excellent 
Manton, a weapon of precision with conical shot, and 
which could bring down a wild cat or an antelope at a 
distance of eight or nine hundred yards. Thus it may be 
seen that the bushman had put aside the quiver of aloes 
and the poisoned darts of his fellow-countrymen for the use 
of European weapons. ; 

“But are you not mistaken, Mr. Emery?” replied Mo- 

“koum. “Is it really at the Falls of Morgheda, and towards 
the end of this month of January, that they have appointed 
to meet you ?” 

“Yes, my friend,” quietly answered William Emery, 
“and here is the letter from Mr. Airy, the director of the 
Greenwich Observatory, which will show you that I am not 
mistaken.” 

The bushman took the letter that his companion gave 
him. He turned it over and over like a man not very 
familiar with the mysteries of penmanship; then giving it 
back to William Emery, he said, “Tell me again what the 
blotted piece of paper says.” | 

The young astronomer, endowed with a patience proof 
against every thing, began again, for the twentieth time, 
the story he had so often told to his friend the hunter. At 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 7 


the end of the foregoing year, William Emery had received 
a letter telling him of the approaching arrival of Colonel 
Everest, and an international scientific commission in South- 
ern Africa. What the plans of the commission were, and 
why it came to the extremity of the continent of Africa, 
Emery could not say, Mr. Airy’s letter being silent on that 
point; but following the instructions that he had received, 
he hastened to Lattakoo, one of the most northern stations 
in the Hottentot country, to prepare waggons, provisions, 
and, in short, every thing that could be wanted for the vic- 
tualling of a Bochjesman caravan. Then, as he knew the 
reputation of the native hunter, Mokoum, who had accom- 
panied Anderson in his hunting expeditions in Western 
Africa, and the intrepid David Livingstone on his first 
journey of exploration to Lake Ngami and the falls of. 
the Zambesi, he offered him the command of this same 
caravan. 

This done, it was arranged that the bushman, who knew 
the country perfectly, should lead William Emery along 
the banks of the Orange to the Morgheda Falls, the place 
appointed for the scientific commission to join them. This 
commission was to take its passage in the British frigate 
“Augusta,” to reach the mouth of the Orange on the 
western coast of Africa, as high as Cape Voltas, and to 
ascend the river as far as the cataracts. William Emery 
and Mokoum had therefore brought a waggon, which they 


8 _ MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 

UG ie Ec enalsk ie eRe eM hada SS ea ae 
had left at the bottom of the valley, to carry the strangers 
and their baggage to Lattakoo, unless they preferred 
getting there by the Orange and its affluents, after they 
had avoided the Falls of Morgheda by a land journey of 
some miles. 

This story ended, and at length really impressed on the 
bushman’s mind, he advanced to the edge of the gulf to 
whose bottom the foaming river threw itself with a crash: 
the astronomer followed, for there a projecting point com- 
manded a view of the river, below the cataract, for a distance 
of several miles. For some minutes Mokoum and his 
companion gazed attentively at the part of the river where 
it resumed its tranquillity about a quarter of a mile below 
them, but not an object, either boat or pirogue, disturbed 
its course. It was then three o'clock. The month of 
January here corresponds to the July of northern countries, 
and the sun, almost vertical in lat. 29°, heated the atmo- 
sphere till the thermometer stood at 105° Fahrenheit in the 
shade. If it had not been for the westerly breeze, which 
moderated the heat a little, the temperature would have 
been unbearable for any but a bushman. Still, the young 
astronomer, with his cool temperament, all bone and all 
nerves, did not feel it too much: the thick foliage of the 
trees which overhung the abyss protected him from the 
direct attacks of the sun’s rays. Not a bird enlivened the 


solitude during these hot hours of the day; not an animal 








William Emery and the Bushman,—|[Page 8, } 


UNIVERSIIY OF ILLINOIS 
Jo RBANA > 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 9 


left the cool shade of the bushes to trust itself along the 
glades; not a sound would have been heard in this deserted 
region, even if the cataract had not filled the whole air with 
its roar. 

After gazing for ten minutes, Mokoum turned to William 
Emery, stamping impatiently with his large foot; his pene- 
trating eyes had discovered nothing. 

“Supposing your people don’t come?” he asked the 
astronomer. 

“They'll come, my brave hunter,” answered William 
Emery: “they are men of their word, and punctual, like 
all astronomers. Besides, what fault do you find with- 
them? The letter says they are to arrive at the end of 
January ; this is the 27th, and these gentlemen have still a 
right to four more days before they need to reach the 
Morgheda Falls.” 

“ And supposing they have not come at the end of those 
four days?” asked the bushman. 

“Well! then, master hunter, there will be a chance for 
us to show our patience, for we will wait for them until I have 
certain proof that they are not coming at all.” 

“By our god Ko!” cried the bushman in a sonorous 
voice, “you are a man who would wait until the Gariep had 
emptied all its roaring waters into that abyss!” 

“No, hunter, no,” replied Emery in his ever quiet tone ; 
“but we must let reason govern our actions ; and what does 


10 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 

reason tell us ? This :—that if Colonel Everest and his com- 
panions, wearied with a tiresome journey, in want perhaps, 
and lost in this lonely country, were not to find us at the 
place of rendezvous, we should be to blame in every way. 
If any thing went wrong, the responsibility would rest on 
us; we ought, therefore, to stay at our post as long as it is 
our duty to do so. And besides, we want for nothing here: 
our waggon is waiting for us at the bottom of the valley, 
and gives us shelter at night ; we have plenty of provisions ; 
nature here is magnificent.and worthy of our admiration ; 
and it is quite a new pleasure to me to spend a few days in 
these splendid forests on the banks of this matchless river. 
As for you, Mokoum, what can you want more? Game, 
both hairy and feathered, abounds in the forests, and your 
rifle keeps us supplied with venison, Hunt, my brave hunter! 
kill time by killing deer and buffaloes! Go, my good bush- 
man ; I’ll watch for the loiterers meanwhile, and your feet, 
at any rate, will run no risk of taking root.” 

The hunter thought the astronomer’s advice was good, 
and decided that he would go for a few hours and beat the 
neighbouring bushes and brushwood. Lions, hyenas, and 
leopards would not disturb such a Nimrod as he, so well 
accustomed to the African forests. He whistled to his dog 
Top, an animal of the hyena breed from the desert of 
Kalahari, and a descendant of that race of which the 


Tsalabas formerly made pointers. The intelligent creature, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. bt 


as impatient, seemingly, as his master, bounded up, and 
showed by his joyous barking how much he was gratified 
at the bushman’s intention. Soon both man and dog dis- 
appeared among the thick masses of wood which crowned the 
background of the cataract. William Emery, now alone, 
again stretched himself at the foot of the willow, and while 
he was waiting for the heat to send him to sleep, began to 
think over his actual position. Here he was, far away from 
any inhabited spot, on the banks of the Orange river, 
a river as yet but little explored. He was waiting for 
Europeans, fellow-countrymen who had left their homes to 
run the risks of a distant expedition. But what was the 
expedition for? What scientific problem could it want to” 
solve in the deserts of South Africa? What observation 
could it be trying to take in lat. 30° S.? That was just 
what Mr. Airy, the director of the Greenwich Observatory, 
did not tell in his letter. As for Emery himself, they asked 
for his co-operation as for that of a scientific man who was 
familiar with the climate of those southern latitudes, and as 
he was openly engaged in scientific labours, he was quite at 
the disposal of his colleagues in the United Kingdom. 

As the young astronomer lay musing over all these things, 
and asking himself a thousand questions which he could not | 
answer, his eyelids became heavy, and at length he slept 
soundly. When he awoke, the sun was already hidden 


behind the western hills, whose picturesque outline stood 


I2 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


—_ 


out sharply against the bright horizon. Some gnawings of 
hunger told him that supper-time was near ; it was, in fact, 
six o'clock, and just the hour for returning to the waggon 
at the bottom of the valley. At that very moment a report 
" resounded from a grove of arborescent heaths, from twelve 
to fifteen feet high, which was growing along the slope of 
the hills on the right. Almost immediately the bushman 
and Top made their appearance at the edge of the wood, 
the former dragging behind him the animal that he had 
just shot. ‘Come, come, master purveyor!” cried Emery, 
“what have you got for supper?” 

“A springbok, Mr. William,” replied the hunter, throwing 
down an animal with horns curved like a lyre. It wasa 
kind of antelope, more generally known by the name of 
“leaping buck,” and which is to be met with in every part 
of South Africa. It is a charming animal, with its cinna- 
mon-coloured back, and its croup covered with tufts of silky 
hair of a dazzling whiteness, whilst its under part is in 
shades of chestnut brown ; its flesh, always excellent eating, 
was on this occasion to form the evening repast. 

The hunter and the astronomer, lifting the beast by 
means of a pole placed across their shoulders, now left the 
head of the cataract, and in half an hour reached their 
encampment in a narrow gorge of the valley, where the 
waggon, guarded by two Bochjesman drivers, was waiting 
for them. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 13 


Se ee 


CHAPTERS IT 


OFFICIAL PRESENTATIONS. 


FOR the next three days, the 28th, 29th, and 30th of 
January, Mokoum and William Emery never left the place 
of rendezvous, While the bushman, carried away by his 
hunting instincts, pursued the game and deer in the wooded 
district lying near the cataract, the young astronomer 
watched the river. The sight of this grand, wild nature 
enchanted him, and filled his soul with new emotions. 
Accustomed as he was to bend over his figures and cata- 
logues day and night, hardly ever leaving the eye-piece 
of his telescope, watching the passage of stars across the 
meridian and their occultations, he delighted in the open- 
air life in the almost impenetrable woods which covered the 
slope of the hills, and on the lonely peaks that were sprin- 
kled by the spray from the Morgheda as with a damp dust. 
It was joy to him to take in the poetry of these vast soli- 

tudes, and to refresh his mind, so wearied with his mathe- 


14 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





matical speculations; and so he beguiled the tediousness 
of his waiting, and became a new man, both in mind and 
body. Thus did the novelty of his situation explain his 
unvarying patience, which the bushman could not share in - 
the least; so there were continually on the part of Mokoum 
the same recriminations, and on the part of Emery the 
same quiet answers, which, however, did not quiet the 
nervous hunter in the smallest degree. 

And now the 31st of January had come, the last day 
fixed in Airy’s letter. If the expected party did not then 
arrive, Emery would be in a very embarrassing position ; 
the delay might be indefinitely prolonged. How long, 
then, ought he to wait ? 

“Mr. William,” said the hunter, “why shouldn’t we go 
to meet these strangers? We cannot miss them; there is 
only one road, that by the river, and if they are coming up, 
as your bit of paper says they are, we are sure to meet 
them.” ; 

“That is a capital idea of yours, Mokoum,” replied the 
astronomer: “we will go on ‘and look out below the falls. 
We can get back to the encampment by the side valleys 
in the south. But tell me, my good bushman, you know 
nearly the whole course of the river, do you not?” 

“Yes, sir,’ answered the hunter, “I have ascended it 
twice from Cape Voltas to its juncture with the Hart on 
the frontier of the Transvaal Republic.” 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 15 


“And it is navigable all the way, except at the Falls of 
Morgheda ?” 

“Just so, sir,” replied the bushman. “ But I should add 
that at the end of the dry season the Orange has not much 
water till within five or six milesof its mouth ; there is then 
a bar, where the swell from the west breaks very violently.” 

“That doesn’t matter,’ answered the astronomer, “ be- 
cause at the time that our friends want to land it will be 
all right. There is nothing then to keep them back, so 
they will come.” | 

The bushman said nothing, but shouldering his gun, and 
whistling to Top, he led the way down the narrow path 
which met the river again 400 feet lower. 

It was then nine o'clock in the morning, and the two 
explorers (for such they might truly be called) followed the 
river by its left bank. Their way did not offer the smooth 
and easy surface of an embankment or towing-path, for 
the river-banks were covered with brushwood, and quite 
hidden in a bower of every variety of plants; and the fes- 
toons of the “cynauchum filiform,” mentioned by Burchell, 
hanging from tree to tree, formed quite a network of ver- 
dure in their path; the bushman’s knife, however, did not 
long remain inactive, and he cut down the obstructive 
branches without mercy. William Emery drank in the 
fragrant air, here especially impregnated with the camphor- 
like odour of the countless blooms of the diosma. Happily 


16 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF | 


there were sometimes more open places along the bank 
devoid of vegetation, where the river flowed quietly, and 
abounded in fish, and these enabled the hunter and his 
companion to make better-progress westward, so that by 
eleven o'clock they had gone about four miles. The wind 
being in the west, the roar of the cataract could not be 
heard at that distance, but on the other hand, all sounds 
below the falls were very distinct. William Emery and the 
hunter, as they stood, could see straight down the river for 
three or four miles. Chalk cliffs, 200 feet high, overhung 
and shut in its bed on either side. | 

“Let us stop and rest here,” said the astronomer; “I 
haven’t your hunter’s legs, Mokoum, and am more used to 
the starry paths of the heavens than to those on terra firma ; 
so let us have a rest; we can see three or four miles down 
the river from here, and if the steamer should turn that last 
bend we are sure to see it.” 

The young astronomer seated himself against a giant 
euphorbia, forty feet high, and in that position looked down 
the river, while the hunter, little used to sitting, continued 
to walk along the bank, and Top roused up clouds of wild 
birds, to which, however, his master gave no heed. They 
had been here about half an hour, when William Emery 
noticed that Mokoum, who was standing about 100 feet 
below him, gave signs of a closer attention. Was it likely 
that he had seen the long-expected boat? The astronomer, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. Ky 


leaving his mossy couch, started for the spot where the 
hunter stood, and came up to him in a very few moments. 

“Do you see any thing, Mokoum ?” he asked. 

“TI see nothing, Mr. William,” answered the bushman, 
“but it seems to me that there is an unusual murmur down 
the river, different to the natural sounds that are so familiar 
to my ears.” And then, telling his companion to be quiet, 
he lay down with his ear on the ground, and listened atten- 
tively. In a few minutes he got up, and shaking his head, 
said,— : 

“I was mistaken; the noise I thought I heard was 
nothing but the breeze among the leaves or the murmur 


” 


of the water over the stones at the edge; and yet 





The hunter listened again, but again heard nothing. 

“Mokoum,” then said Mr. William Emery, “if the noise 
you thought you heard is caused by the machinery of a 
steamboat, you would hear better by stooping to the level 
of the river; water always conducts sound more clearly 
and quickly than air.” , 

“You are right, Mr. William,” answered Mokoum, “for 
more than once I have found out the passage of a hippo- 
potamus across the river in that way.” 

The bushman went nimbly down the bank, clinging to 
the creepers and tufts of grass on his way. When he got | 
to the level of the river, he went in to his knees, and stoop- 
ing down, laid his ear close to the water. 

C 


18 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 

“Yes!” he exclaimed, in a few minutes, “I was not mis- 
taken ; there is a sound, some miles down, as if the waters 
were being violently beaten ; it is a continual monotonous 
splashing which is introduced into the current.” 

“Ts it like a screw?” asked the astronomer. 

“Perhaps it is, Mr. Emery ; they are not far off.” 

William Emery did not hesitate to believe his com- 
panion’s assertion, for he knew that the hunter was en- 
dowed with great delicacy of sense, whether he used his 
eyes, nose, or ears. Mokoum climbed up the bank again, 
and they determined to wait in that place, as they could 
easily see down theriver from there. Half an hour passed, 
which to Emery, in spite of his calmness, appeared inter- 
minable. Ever so many times he fancied he saw the dim 
outline of a boat gliding along the water, but he was always 
mistaken. At last an exclamation from the bushman made 
his heart leap. : 

“Smoke!” cried Mokoum. 

Looking in the direction indicated by the bushman, 
Emery could just see a light streak rolling round the bend 
of the river: there was no longer any doubt. The vessel 
advanced rapidly, and he could soon make out the funnel 
pouring forth a torrent of black smoke mingling with white 
steam. They had evidently made up their fires to increase 
their speed, so as to reach the appointed place on the exact 


day. ‘The vessel was still about seven miles from the Falls 














ay 











































































































| 


s heart beat.—[Page 18. 


i 


hman made h 


ion of the Bus 


clamat 


X 


ye; 





At length an e 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 1g 








— 


of Morgheda. It was then twelve o’clock, and as it was not 
a good place for landing, the astronomer determined to 
return to the foot of the cataract: he told his plan to the 
hunter, who only answered by turning back along the path 
he had just cleared along the left bank of the stream. 
Emery followed, and, turning round for the last time at a 
bend in the river, saw the British flag floating from the 
stern of the vessel. The return to the falls was soon ef- 
fected, and in an hour’s time the bushman and the astro- 
nomer halted a quarter of a mile below the cataract; for 
there the shore, hollowed into a semicircle, formed a little 
creek, and as the water was deep right up to the bank, the 
steamboat could easily land its passengers. The vessel 
could not be far off now, and it had certainly gained on the 
two pedestrians, although they had walked so fast; it was 
not yet in sight, for the lofty trees which hung quite 
over the river-banks into the water, and the slope of the 
banks themselves, did not allow of an extensive view. But 
although they could not hear the sound made by the steam, 
the shrill whistle of the machinery broke in distinctly on 
the monotonous roar of the cataract; and as this whistling 
continued, it was evident that it was a signal from the boat 
to announce its arrival near the falls. The hunter replied 
by letting off his gun, the report being repeated with a 
crash by the echoes of the shore. At last the vessel was in 
sight, and William Emery and his companion were seen by 
C2 


20 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


those on board. At a sign from the astronomer the vessel 
turned, and glided quietly alongside the bank; a rope was 
thrown dshore, which the bushman seized and twisted round 
the broken stump of a tree, and immediately a tall man 
sprang lightly on to the bank, and went towards the astro- 
nomer, whilst his companions landed in their turn. William 
Emery also advanced to meet the pen ees saying in- 
quiringly, “ Colonel Everest ?” 

“Mr. William Emery ?” answered the Colonel. 

The astronomer bowed and shook hands. 

“Gentlemen,” then said Colonel Everest, “let me intro- 
duce you to Mr. William Emery, of the Cape Town Obser- 
vatory, who has kindly come as far as the Morgheda Falls 
to meet us.” | 

Four of the passengers who stood near Colonel Everest 
bowed to the young astronomer, who did the same; and 
then the Colonel, with his British self-possession, introduced 
them officially, saying,— 

“Mr. Emery, Sir John Murray, of the county of Devon, 
your fellow-countryman ; Mr. Matthew Strux, of the Poul- 
kowa Observatory ; Mr. Nicholas Palander, of the Helsing- 
fors Observatory; and Mr. Michael Zorn, of the Kiew 
Observatory, three scientific gentlemen who represent the 
Russian government in our international commission.” 























































































































ey Z 








































































































20. | 


—[Page 


ition 


e Exped 


Meeting of Members of th 








THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 21 


CHAPTER III. 
THE LAND JOURNEY. 


THESE introductions over, William Emery put himself 
at the disposal of the new arrivals, for in his position o. 
astronomer at the Cape, he was inferior in rank to Colonel 
Everest, a delegate of the English Government, and, with 
Matthew Strux, joint president of the commission. He 
knew, as well, that he was a distinguished man of science, 
famous for his reductions of the nebulz and his calculations 
of the occultations of the stars. Hewas.a cold, methodical 
man, of about fifty years of age, every hour of his life being 
portioned out with mathematical accuracy. Nothing un- 
foreseen ever happened to him, and his punctuality in every 
thing was like that of the stars in passing the meridian, and 
it might be said that all his doings were regulated by the 
chronometer. William Emery knew all this, and had there- 
fore never doubted that the commission would arrive on 
the appointed day. During this time he was waiting for 
the Colonel to tell him the object of this mission.to South 


e 


22 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


Africa ; but as he was still silent on the point, Emery 
thought it better not to ask any questions, as very likely 
the hour fixed in the Colonel's mind for the subject had 
not yet come. 

Emery also knew by repute the wealthy Sir John Mur- 
ray, who (almost a rival to Sir James Ross and Lord Elgin) 
was, although without office, an honour to England by his 
scientific labours. His pecuniary sacrifices to science were 
likewise considerable, for he had devoted 420,000 to the 
establishment of a giant reflector, a match for the telescope 
at Parson Town, by whose means the elements of a number 
of double stars had just been determined. He was a man 
of about forty years of age, with an aristocratic bearing, 
but whose character it was impossible to discover through 
his imperturbable exterior. 

As to the three Russians, Strux, Palander, and Zorn, 
their names were also well known to William Emery, 
although he was not personally acquainted with them. 
Nicholas Palander and Michael Zorn -paid a certain 
amount of deference to Matthew Strux, as was due to 
his position, if it had not been to his merit. 

The only remark that Emery made was that they were 
in equal numbers, three English and three Russians ; and 
the crew of the “Queen and Czar” (for that was the name 
of the steamboat) consisted of ten men, five English and 
five Russians, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 23 


“Mr. Emery,” said Colonel Everest, when the introduc- 
tions were over, “we are now as well ‘acquainted as if we 
had travelled together from London to Cape Voltas. Be- 
sides, your labours have already earned you a just renown, 
and on that-account I hold you in high esteem. It was at 
my request that the English Government appointed you to 
assist in our operations in South Africa.” 

William Emery bowed in acknowledgment, and thought 
that he was now going to hear the object of the scientific 
commission to the southern hemisphere ; but still Colonel 
Everest did not explain it. 

“Mr. Emery,” he went on, “are your preparations com- 
plete?” 

“ Quite, Colonel,” replied the astronomer. “ According 
to the directions in Mr. Airy’s letter, I left Cape Town a 
month ago, and went to the station at Lattakoo, and there 
I collected all the materials for an expedition into the interior _ 
of Africa, provisions, waggons, horses, and bushmen. There ~ 
is an escort of 100 armed men waiting for you at Lattakoo, 
and they will be under the command of a clever and cele- 
brated hunter, whom I now beg to present to you, the 
bushman Mokoum.” 

“The bushman Mokoum!” cried the Colonel (if his — 
usual cold tone could justify such a verb), “the bushman 
Mokoum! I know his name perfectly well.” | 

“Tt is the name of a clever, brave African,” added Sir 


° 


24, MERIDIANA;, THE ADVENTURES OF 





John Murray, turning to the hunter, who was not at all 
discomposed by the grand airs of the Europeans. | 

“The hunter Mokoum,” said William Emery, as he intro- 
duced his companion. | 

“Your name is well known in the United Kingdom, 
bushman,” replied Colonel Everest. “You were the friend 
‘of Anderson and the guide of David Livingstone, whose 
friend I have the honour of being. I thank you in the 
name of England, and I congratulate Mr. Emery on having 
chosen you as the chief of our caravan. Such a hunter as you 
must be a connoisseur of fire-arms, and as we have a very fair 
supply, I shall beg you to take your choice of the one which 
will suit you the best ; we know that it will be in good hands.” 

A smile of satisfaction played round the bushman’s lips, 
for although he was no doubt gratified by the recognition 
of his services in England, yet the Colonel’s offer touched 
him the most : he then returned thanks in polite terms, and . 
stepped aside, while Emery and the Europeans continued 
their conversation. : 

The young astronomer went through all the details of 
the expedition he had prepared, and the Colonel seemed 
delighted. He was anxious to reach Lattakoo as quickly 
‘as possible, as the caravan ought to start at the beginning 
of March, after the rainy season. 

“Will you be kind enough to decide how you will get to 
the town, Colonel Everest ?” said William Emery. 





ion. 


Compani 


ing his 


resenti 


Pp 


Emery, 


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ill 


WwW 


,»” said 


Tokoum 


Ny 


r 


*¢The Hunte 


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24 


ve 
sv 


[Pas 


BAe ue ne ne Rol ae 
Tage eal gta ee FM Sata oS hat 
SP yar et he ee WS CA En 
Nad Se eter eB Say + y ne Cr 
—* % 


aie 
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Magia sy 


. 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 25 





“ By the Orange River, and one of its affluents, the Kuru- 
man, which flows close to Lattakoo.” 

_ “True,” replied the astronomer, “ but however well your 
vessel may travel, it cannot possibly ascend the cataract 
of Morgheda!” . 

“We will go round the cataract, Mr. Emery,” replied the 
Colonel, “and by making a land journey of a few miles, we 
can re-embark above the falls ; and from there to Lattakoo, 
if I am not mistaken, the rivers are navigable for a vessel 
that does not draw much water.” | 

“No doubt, Colonel,” answered William Emery, “ but 
this steamboat is too heavy .. .” 

“Mr. Emery,” interrupted the Colonel, “this vessel is a 
masterpiece from Leard and Co’s manufactory in Liverpool. 
It takes to pieces, and is put together again with the great- 
est ease, a key and a few bolts being all that is required by 
men used tothe work. You brought a waggon to the falls, 
did you not?” 

“Yes, Colonel,’ answered Emery, “our encampment is 
not a mile away.” 

“Well, I must beg the bushman to have the waggon 
brought to the landing-place, and it will then be loaded 
with the portions of the vessel and its machinery, which 
also takes to pieces; and we shall then get up to the spot 
where the Orange becomes navigable.” E 

Colonel Everest’s orders were obeyed. The bushman 


26 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


disappeared quickly in the underwood, promising to be- 
back in less than an hour, and while he was gone, the 
steamboat was rapidly unloaded. The cargo was not very 
considerable; it consisted of some cases of philosophical 
instruments ; a fair collection of guns of Purdey Moore’s 
manufacture, of Edinburgh; some kegs of brandy; some 
canisters of preserved meat; cases of ammunition; port- 
manteaus reduced to the smallest size; tent-cloths and all 
their utensils, looking as if they had come out of a travelling- 
bazaar; a carefully packed gutta-percha canoe, which took 
up no more room than a well-folded counterpane ; some 
materials for encamping, &c., &c.; and lastly, a fan- 
shaped mitrailleuse, a machine not then brought to per- 
fection, but formidable enough to terrify any enemy 
who might come across their path. ‘ All these were 
placed on the bank; and the engine, of 8-horse power, was 
divided into three parts: the boiler and its tubes; the 
mechanism, which was parted from the boiler by a turn 
of a key; and the screw attached to the false stern-post. 
When these had been successively carried away, the inside 
of the vessel was left free. Besides the space reserved for 
the machinery and the stores, it was divided into a fore- 
cabin for the use of the crew, and an aft-cabin, occupied by 
Colonel Everest and his companions.’ In the twinkling of 
an eye the partitions vanished, all the chests and bedsteads 
were lifted out, and now the vessel was reduced to a mere 













































































Se ae 


SS . Ss > ie ie 





All these Objects were deposited on the Beach.—[Page 26. ] 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 27 


shell, thirty-five feet long, and composed of three parts, like 
the “ Ma-Robert,” the steam-vessel used by Dr. Livingstone 
in his first voyage up the Zambesi. It was made of gal- 
vanized steel, so that it was light, and at the same time 
resisting. The bolts, which fastened the plates over a 
framework of the same metal, kept them firm, and also 
prevented the possibility of a leakage. William Emery 
was truly astounded at the simplicity of the work and the 
rapidity with which it was executed. The waggon, under 
the guidance of Mokoum and the two Bochjesmen, had 
only arrived an hour when they were ready to load it. 
This waggon, rather a primitive vehicle, was mounted on 
four massive wheels, each couple being about twenty feet 
apart ; it was a regular American “car” in length. This 
clumsy machine, with its creaking axles projecting a good 
foot beyond the wheels, was drawn by six tame buffaloes, 
two and two, who were extremely sensitive to the long 
goad carried by their driver. It required nothing less than 
~ such beasts as these to move the vehicle when heavily laden, 
for in spite of the adroitness of the “leader,” it stuck in the 
mire more than once. The crew of the “Queen and Czar” 
now proceeded to load the waggon so as to balance it well 
every where. The dexterity of sailors is proverbial, and 
the lading of the vehicle was like play to the brave men. 
They laid the larger pieces of the boat on the strongest 
part of the waggon, immediately over the axles of the 


28 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


wheels, so that the cases, chests, barrels, and the lighter 
and more fragile packages easily found room between 
them. As to the travellers themselves, a four miles’ walk 
was nothing to them. By three o’clock the loading was _ 
finished, and Colonel Everest gave the signal for starting. 
He and his companions, with William Emery as guide, 
took the lead, while the bushman, the crew, and the drivers 
of the waggon followed more slowly. They performed the 
journey without fatigue, for the slopes that led to the upper 
course of the Orange made their road easy, by making it 
longer, and this was a happy thing for the heavily-laden 
waggon, as it would thus reach its goal more surely, if 
more slowly. 

The different members of the commission clambered 
lightly up the side of the hill, and the conversation became 
general, but there was still no mention of the object of the . 
expedition. The Europeans were admiring the splendid 
scenes that were opened to their view, for this grand nature, 
so beautiful in its wildness, charmed them as it had charmed 
the young astronomer, and their voyage had not yet: sur- 
feited them with the natural beauties of this African region, 
though they admired every thing with a quiet admiration, 
and, English-like, would not do any thing that might seem 
“improper.” However, the cataract drew forth some grace- 
ful applause, and although they clapped perhaps with only 
the tips of their fingers, yet it was enough to show that 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 29. 


“nil.admirari” was not quite their motto. Besides, Wil- 
liam Emery thought it his duty to do the honours of 
South Africa to his guests; for he was at home, and like 
certain over-enthusiastic citizens, he did not spare a detail 
of his African park. Towards half-past four they had 
passed the cataract of Morgheda, and being now on level 
ground, the upper part of the river lay before them as far 
as their eye could reach, and they encamped on the bank to 
await the arrival of the waggon. It appeared at the top of 
the hill about five o’clock, having accomplished the journey 
in safety, and Colonel Everest ordered it to be unloaded 
immediately, announcing that they were to start at day- 
break the next morning. All the night was passed in 
different occupations. The shell of the vessel was put 
together again in less than an hour; then the machinery 
of the screw was put into its place; the metal partitions 
were fixed between the cabins; the store-rooms were re- 
furnished, and the different packages neatly arranged on 
board, and every thing done so quickly that it told a great 
deal in favour of the crew of the “Queen and Czar.” 
These Englishmen and Russians were picked men, clever 
and well disciplined, and thoroughly to be depended on. 
The next day, the 1st of February, the boat was ready to 
receive its passengers at daybreak. Already there was a 
volume of black smoke pouring from the funnel, and: the 


engineer, to put the machinery in motion, was ‘causing jets 


30 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


of white steam to fly across the smoke. The machine being 
at high pressure, without a condenser, the steam escaped at ~ 
every stroke of the piston, according to the system applied 
to locomotives ; and as to the boiler, with its ingeniously 
contrived tubes, presenting a large surface to the furnace, 
it only required half an hour to furnish a sufficient quantity 
of steam. They had laid in a good stock of ebony and 
guiacum, which were plentiful in the neighbourhood; and 
they were now lighting the great fire with this valuable 
wood. 

At six o’clock Colonel Everest gave the signal for start- 
ing, and passengers and crew went on board the “ Queen 
and Czar.” The hunter, who was’ acquainted with the 
course of the river, followed, leaving the two Bochjesmen 
to take the waggon back to Lattakoo. Just as the vessel 
was slipping its cable, Colonel Everest turned to the astro- 
nomer, and said,— . 

“ By-the-bye, Mr. Emery, you know why we have come 
here?” 

“T have not the least idea, Colonel,” 

“It is very simple, Mr. Emery: we have come to mea- 
sure an arc of meridian in South Africa.” © 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 31 


CHAPTER IV: 


A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE “METRE.” 


THE idea of an invariable and constant system of mea- 
surement, of which nature herself should furnish the exact 
value, may be said to have existed in the mind of man from 
the earliest ages. It was of the highest importance, how- 
ever, that this measurement should be accurately deter- 
mined, whatever had been the cataclysms of which our 
earth had been the scene, and it is certain that the ancients 
felt the same, though they failed in methods and appliances 
for carrying out the work with sufficient accuracy. The 
best way of obtaining a constant measurement was to con- 
nect it with the terrestrial sphere, whose circumference must 
be considered as invariable, and then to measure the whole 
or part of that circumference mathematically. The an-— 
cients had tried to do this, and Aristotle, according to some. 
contemporary philosophers, reckoned that the stadium, or 
Egyptian cubit, formed the hundred-thousandth part of the 
distance between the pole and the equator, and Eratos- 


32 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


thenes, in the time of the Ptolemies, calculated the value 
of a degree along the Nile, between Syene and Alex- 
andria, pretty correctly; but Posidonius and Ptolemy 
were not sufficiently accurate in the same kind of geo- 
detic operations that they undertook; neither were their 
successors. ORs: : 

_ Picard, for the first time in France, began to regulate the 
methods that were used for measuring a degree, and in 
1669, by measuring the celestial and terrestrial arcs be- 
tween Paris and Amiens, found that a degree was equal to 
57,060 toises, equivalent to 364,876 English feet, or about 
69:1 miles. Picard’s measurement was continued either 
way across the French territory as far as Dunkirk and 
Collioure by Dominic Cassini and Lahire (1683—1718), 
and it was verified in 1739, from Dunkirk to Perpignan, 
by Francis Cassini and Lacaille; and at length Méchain 
carried it as far as Barcelona in Spain; but after his death 
(for he succumbed to the fatigue attending his operations) — 
the measurement of the meridian in France was interrupted 
until it was subsequently taken up by Arago and Biot in 
1807. These two men prolonged it as far as the Balearic Isles, 
so that the arc now extended from Dunkirk to F ormentera, 
being equally divided by the parallel of lat. 45° N., half 
way between the pole and the equator; and under these 
conditions it was not necessary to take the depression of 


the earth into account in order to find the value of the 


- THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS, 33 





quadrant of the meridian. This measurement gave 57,025 
toises as the mean value of an arc of-a degree in France. 

It can be seen that up to that time Frenchmen especially 
had undertaken to determine that delicate point, and it was 
likewise the French Convention that, according to Talley- 
rand’s proposition, passed a resolution in 1790, charging 
the Academy of Sciences to invent an invariable system of 
weights and measures. Just at that time the statement 
signed by the illustrious names of Borda, Lagrange, La- 
place, Monge, and Condorcet, proposed that the unit of 
measure should be the métre, the ten-millionth part of the 
quadrant of the meridian; and that the unit of weight 
should be the gramme, a cubic centimetre of distilled water 
at the freezing-point ; and that the multiples and subdivi- 
sions of every measure should be formed decimally. | 

Later, the determinations of the value of a terrestrial 
degree were carried on in different parts of the world, for 
the earth being not spherical, but elliptic, it required much 
calculation to find the depression at the poles. 

In 1736, Maupertuis, Clairaut, Camus, Lemonnier, Ou- 
thier, and the Swedish Celsius measured a northern arc in 
Lapland, and found the length ofan arc of a degree to 
be 57,419 toises. In 1745, La Condamine, Bouguer, and 
Godin, set sail for Peru, where they were joined by the 
Spanish officers Juan and Antonio Ulloa, and they then 
found that the Peruvian arc contained 56,737 toises. 

D 


34 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





In 1752, Lacaille reported 57,037 toises as the length of 
the arc he had measured at the Cape of Good Hope. 

In 1754, Father Boscowitch and Father le Maire began 
a survey of the Papal States, and in the course of their 
operations found the arc between Rome and Kimini to be 
56,973 toises. | 

In 1762 and 1763, Beccaria reckoned the degree in Pied- 
mont at 57,468 toises, and in 1768, the astronomers Mason 
and Dixon, in North America, on the confines of Maryland 
and Pennsylvania, found that the value of the degree in 
America was 56,888 toises. 

Since the beginning of the rgth century numbers of other 
arcs have been measured, in Bengal, the East Indies, Pied- 
mont, Finland, Courland, East Prussia, Denmark, &c., but 
the English and Russians were less active than other na- 
tions in trying to decide this delicate point, their principal 
geodetic operation being that undertaken by General Roy 
in 1784, for the purpose of determining the difference of 
longitude between Paris and Greenwich. 

It may be concluded from all the above-mentioned mea- 
surements that the mean value of a degree is 57,000 toises, 
or 25 ancient French leagues, and by multiplying this mean 
value by the 360 degrees contained in the circumference, 
it is found that the earth measures gooo leagues round. 
But, as may be seen from the figures above, the measure- 
ments of the different arcs in different parts of the world do 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 35 
not quite agree. Nevertheless, by taking this average of 
57,000 toises for the value of a degree, the value of the 
métre, that is to say, the ten-millionth part of the 
quadrant of the meridian, may be deduced, and is found 
to be 0.513074 of the whole line, or $9.37079 English 
inches. In reality, this value is rather too small, for 
later calculations (taking into account the depression of 
the earth at the poles, which is =,45, and not +1,, as was 
thought at first) now give nearly 10,000,856 metres instead 
of 10,000,coo for the length of the quadrant of the meridian. 
The difference of 8 56 metres is hardly noticeable in such 
a long distance; but nevertheless, mathematically speak- 
ing, it cannot be said that the metre, as it is now used, 
represents the ten-millionth part'of the quadrant of the 
terrestrial meridian Son there is an error of about 
stoy Of a line, i.e. 3455 of the twelfth part of an inch. 

The métre, thus determined, was still not adopted by all 
the civilized nations. Belgium, Spain, Piedmont, Greece, 
Holland, the old Spanish colonies, the republics of the 
Equator, New Granada, and Costa Rica, took a fancy to 
it immediately ; but notwithstanding the evident supe- 
riority of this metrical system to every other, England 
had refused to use it. Perhaps if it had not been for the 
political disturbances which arose at the close of the 
18th century, the inhabitants of the United Kingdom 
would have accepted the system, for when the Con- 

D2 


a bn a ner ines ices nan 


26 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


stituent Assembly issued its decree on the 8th of May, 
1790, the members of the Royal Society in England were 
invited to co-operate with the French Academicians. They 
had to decide whether the measure of the métre should be 
founded on the length of the pendulum that beats the 
sexagesimal second, or whether they should take a frac- 
tion of one of the great circles of the earth for a unit of 
length ; but events prevented the proposed conference, and 
so it was not until the year 1854 that England, having long 
- seen the advantage of the metrical system, and that scien- 
tific and commercial societies were being founded to spread 
the reform, resolved to adopt it. But still the English 
Government wished to keep their resolution a secret until 
the new geodetic operations that they had commenced 
should enable them to assign a more correct value to the 
terrestrial degree, and they thought they had better act in 
concert with the Russian Government, who were also _ 
hesitating about adopting the system. A Commission of 
three Englishmen and three Russians was therefore chosen 
from among the most eminent members of the scientific 
societies, and we have seen that they were Colonel Everest, 3 
Sir John Murray, and William Emery, for England; and 
Matthew Strux, Nicholas Palander, and Michael Zorn, for 
Russia. The international Commission having met in 
London, decided first of all that the measure of an arc of 
meridian should be taken in the Southern hemisphere, and 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 37 


J 





that another arc should subsequently be measured in the 
Northern hemisphere, so that from the two operations 
they might hope to deduce an exact value which should 
satisfy all the conditions of the programme. It now re- — 
mained to choose between the different English possessions 
in the Southern hemisphere, Cape -Colony, Australia, and 
New Zealand. The two last, lying quite at the antipodes 
of Europe, would involve the Commission in a long 
voyage, and, besides, the Maoris and Australians, who 
were often at war with their invaders, might render the 
proposed operation difficult; while Cape Colony, on the 
contrary, offered real advantages. In the first place, it 
was under the same meridian as parts of European Russia, 
so that after measuring an-arc of meridian in South Africa, 
they could measure a second one in the empire of the 
Czar, and still keep their operations a secret; secondly, 
the voyage fiom England to South Africa was compara- 
tively short; and thirdly, these English and Russian 
philosophers would find an excellent opportunity there 
of analyzing the labours of the French astronomer Lacaille, 
who had worked in the same place, and of proving whether 
he was correct in giving 57,037 toises as the measurement 
of a degree of meridian at the Cape of Good Hope. It 
was therefore decided that the geodetic operation should 
be commenced at the Cape, and as the two Governments 
approved of the decision, large credits were opened, 


33 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 

and two sets of all the instruments required in a trian- 
gulation were manufactured. The astronomer William 
Emery was asked to make preparations for an exploration 
in the interior of South Africa, and the frigate “ Augusta,” 
of the royal navy, received orders to convey the members 
of the Commission and their suite to the mouth of the 
Orange River. 

It should here be added, that besides the scientific 
question, there was also a question of national vainglory 
that excited these philosophers to join ina common labour; 
for, in reality, they were anxious to out-do France in her 
numerical calculations, and to surpass in precision the 
labours of her most illustrious astronomers, and that in 
the heart of a savage and almost unknown land. Thus 
the members of the Anglo-Russian Commission had re- 
solved to sacrifice every thing, even their lives, in order 
to obtain a result that should be favourable to science, 
and at the same time glorious for their country. And 
this is how it came to pass that the astronomer William 
Emery found himself at the Morgheda Falls, on the banks 
of the Orange River, at the end of January, 1854. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS, 39 





CHAPTER V. 


A HOTTENTOT VILLAGE, 


THE voyage along the upper course of the river was soon 
accomplished, and although the weather soon became rainy, 
the passengers, comfortably installed in the ship’s cabin,. 
suffered no inconvenience from the torrents of rain which 
usually fall at that season. The “Queen and Czar” shot 
along rapidly, for there were neither rapids nor shallows, 
and the current was not sufficiently strong to retard her 
progress. Every aspect of the river-banks was enchanting ; 
forest followed upon forest, and quite a world of birds dwell 
among the leafy branches. Here and there were groups of 

trees belonging to the family of the “ proteacez,” and , 
especially the “wagenboom” with its reddish marbled-wood, 
forming a curious contrast with its deep blue leaves and 
large pale yellow flowers: then there were the “zwarte- 
basts” with their black: bark, and the. “karrees” with dark 
evergreen foliage. The banks were shaded every where by 
weeping willows, while the underwood extended beyond 


40 MERIDIANA, Lili ADVENTURES OF 


for several miles. Every now and then vast open tracks 
presented themselves unexpectedly, large plains, covered 
with innumerable colocynths, mingled with “sugar-bushes,” 
out of which flew clouds of sweet-singing little birds, called 
“suiker-vogels” by the Cape colonists. The winged world 
offered many varieties, all of which were pointed out to Sir 
John Murray by the bushman. Sir John was a great lover 
of game, both hairy and feathered, and thus a sort of inti- 
macy arose between him and Mokoum, to whom, according 
to Colonel Everest’s promise, he had given an excellent long- 
range rifle, made on the Pauly system. It would be useless 
to attempt a description of the bushman’s delight when he 
found himself in possession of such a splendid weapon. 
The two hunters understood each other well, for though so 
iearned, Sir John Murray passed for one of the most 
brilliant fox-hunters in old Caledonia, and he listened to 
the bushman’s stories with an interest amounting to envy. 
His eyes sparkled when Mokoum showed him the wild 
ruminants in the woods; here a herd of fifteen to twenty 
giraffes ; there, buffaloes six feet high, with towering black 
horns: farther on, fierce gnus with horses’ tails; and again, 
herds of “caamas,” a large kind of deer, with bright eyes, 
and horns forming a threatening-looking triangle; and 
every where, in the dense forests as well as in the open 
plains, the innumerable varieties of antelopes which abound 
in Southern Africa; the spurious chamois, the gems-bok, 


de 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 4l 





the gazelle, the duiker-bok, and the spring-bok. Was not 
all this something to tempt a hunter, and could the fox- 
hunts of the Scottish lowlands vie with the exploits of a 
Cumming, an Anderson, or a Baldwin? It must be con- 
fessed that Sir John Murray’s companions were less excited 
than himself at these magnificent specimens of wild game. 
William Emery was watching his colleagues attentively, 
and trying to discover their character under their cold 
exterior. Colonel Everest and Matthew Strux, men of 
about the same age, were equally cold, reserved, and 
formal; they always spoke with a measured slowness, and 
from morning to night it seemed as if they had never met 
before. That any intimacy should ever be established be- | 
tween two such important personages was a thing not to be 
hoped for; two icebergs, placed side by side would join in 
time, but two scientific men, each holding a high position, 
never. 

Nicholas Palander, a man of about fifty-five years of age, 
was one of those who have never been young, and who will 
never be old. The astronomer of Helsingfors, constantly 
absorbed in his calculations, might be a very admirably 
constructed machine, but still he was nothing but a machine, 
a kind of abacus, or universal reckoner. He was the cal- 
culator of the Anglo-Russian Commission, and one of those 
prodigies who work out multiplications to five figures in 
their head, like a fifty-year-old Mondeux, 


42 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





. Michael Zorn more nearly resembled William Emery in 
age, enthusiasm, and good humour. His amiable qualities 
did not prevent his being an astronomer of great merit, 
having attained an early celebrity. The discoveries made 
by him at the Kiew Observatory concerning the nebula of | 
Andromeda had attracted attention in scientific Europe, 
and yet with this undoubted merit he had a great deal of 
modesty, and was always in the background. William 
Emery and Michael Zorn were becoming great friends, 
united by the same tastes and aspirations; and most 
generally they were talking together, while Colonel Everest 
and Matthew Strux were coldly watching each other, and 
Palander was mentally extracting cube roots without 
noticing the lovely scenes on the banks, and Sir John 
Murray and the bushman were forming plans for hunting 
down whole hecatombs of victims. 

No incident marked the voyage along the upper course 
of the Orange. Sometimes the granite cliffs which shut in 
the winding bed of the river seemed to forbid further pro- 
gress, and often the wooded islands which dotted the cur- 
rent seemed to render the route uncertain; but the bush-- 
man never hesitated, and the “Queen and Czar” always 
chose the right route, and passed round the cliffs without 
hindrance. The helmsman never had to repent of having 
followed Mokoum’s directions. | 

In four days the steamboat. had passed over the 240 miles 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND ‘THREE RUSSIANS. 43 





between the cataract of Morgheda and the Kuruman, an 
affluent which flowed exactly past the town of Lattakoo, | 
whither Colonel Everest’s expedition was bound. About 
thirty leagues above the falls the river bends from its 
‘general direction, which is east and west, and flows south- 
east as far as the acute angle which the territory of Cape 
Colony makes in the north, and then turning to the north- 
east, it loses itself in the wooded country of the Transvaal 
‘Republic. It was early in the morning of the 5th of 
February, in a driving rain, that the “Queen and Czar” 
‘arrived at Klaarwater, a Hottentot village, close to the 
meeting of the Orange and Kuruman. Colonel Everest, 
‘unwilling to lose a moment, passed quickly by the few 
Bochjesmen cabins that form the village, and under the 
‘pressure of her screw, the vessel began to ascend the 
affluent. The rapid current was to be attfibuted, as the 
passengers remarked, to a peculiarity in the river, for the 
Kuruman being wide at its source, was lessened as it 
‘descended by the influence of the sun’s rays; but at this 
“season, swollen by the rains, and further increased by the 
waters of a sub-affluent, the Moschona, it became very 
deep and rapid. The fires were therefore made up, and the 
vessel ascended the Kuruman at the rate of three miles an 
hour. eRe 
During the voyage the bushman pointed out a good 
many hippopotami in the water; but these great pachy- 


44 — MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


derms, clumsy, thickset beasts, from eight to ten feet long, 
which the Dutch at the Cape call “sea-cows,” were by no 
means of an aggressive nature, and the hissing of the steam 
and the panting of the screw quite frightened them, the 
boat appearing to them like some great monster which 
they ought to distrust, and in fact, the arsenal on board . 
would have rendered approach very difficult. Sir John 
Murray would have very much liked to try his explosive 
bullets on the fleshy masses, but the bushman assured him 
that there would be no lack of hippopotami in the more 
northerly rivers, so he determined to wait fora more favour- 
able opportunity. 

The 150 miles which Serertes the mouth of the Kuru- 
man from the station of Lattakoo were traversed in fifty 
hours, and on the 7th of February the travellers had reached 
the end of their journey. As soon as the steamboat was 
moored to the bank which served as a quay, a man of fifty 
years of age, with a grave air but kind countenance, stepped 
on board, and offered his hand to William Emery. The 
astronomer introduced the new-comer to his travelling 
companions, as— 

“The Rev. Thomas Dale, of the London Missionary 
Society, Governor of the station of Lattakoo.” _ 

The Europeans bowed to Mr. Dale, who gave them 
welcome, and put himself at their service. 

The town of Lattakoo, or rather the village of that name, 














































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































iy ill 
nae nig 
Wan 














The Mission Home Establishment.—[Page 44-] 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 45 





is the most northerly of the Cape Missionary stations, and 
is divided into Old and New. The first, which'the “Queen 
and Czar” now reached, had 12,000 inhabitants at the 
beginning of the century, but they have since emigrated to 
the north-east, and the town, now fallen into decay, has 
been replaced by New Lattakoo, which is built close by, on 
a plain which was formerly covered with ‘acacias, and 
thither Mr. Dale conducted the Europeans. It. consisted 
of. about forty groups of houses, and contained: 5000: or 
6000 inhabitants of the tribe of the Bechuanas. Dr. Living- 
stone stayed in this town for three months before his first 
voyage up the Zambesi in 1840, previously to crossing the 
whole of Central Africa, from the bay of L: nda to the 
port of Kilmana on the coast of Mozambique. 

When they reached New Lattakoo, Colonel Everest 
presented a letter from Dr. Livingstone, which commended 
the ‘Anglo-Russian Commission to his friends in South 
Africa, Mr. Dale read it with much pleasure, and returned 
it to the Colonel, saying that he might find it useful on his 
journey, as the name of David Livingstone was known and 
honoured throughout that part of Africa. 

The members of the Commission were lodged. in the 
“missionary establishment, a large house built on an eminence 
and surrounded by an impenetrable hedge like a fortifica- 
tion. The Europeans could be more comfortably lodged 
here than with the Bechuanas; not that their dwellings 


46 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





were not kept properly in order; on the contrary, the 
smooth cldy floors did not show a particle of dust, 
and the long-thatched roofs were quite rain-proof; but 
at best, their houses were little better than huts with 
a round hole for a door, hardly large enough to admit 
aman; moreover, they all lived in common, and close 
contact with the Bechuanas would scarcely have been 
agreeable, 

The chief of the tribe, one Moulibahan, lived at Lattakoo, 
and thought it right to come and pay his respects to the 
Europeans. He was rather a fine man, without the thick | 
lips and flat nose of the negro, with a round face not so 
. shrunken in its lower part as that of the other Hottentots. 
He was dressed in a cloak of skins, sewn together with 
considerable art, and an apron called a “pujoke.” Hewore 
a leather skull-cap, and sandals of ox-hide: ivory rings 
were wound round his arms, and from his ears hung brass" 
plates about four inches long—a kind of ear-ring—which is 
also a charm; an antelope’s tail stood up in his skull-cap, 
and his hunting-stick was surmounted by a tuft of small 
black ostrich feathers. The natural colour of his body was 
quite invisible through the thick coating of ochre with 
which he was besmeared from head to foot, while some 
ineffaceable incisions in his legs denoted the number of 
enemies he had slain. 

The chief, as grave as Matthew Strux himself, stepped 


a, 
nd =! Bad ee 


ts 
Wet ni Rags 


= 


















































] 
| 


~ 


: 





































































































































































































Chief Moulibahan.—[Page 46.] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 47 


up to the Europeans, and took them in turn by the nose. 
The Russians permitted this to be done quite gravely, the 
English rather more reluctantly, but still it had to be done, 
for according to African custom, it denoted a solemn 
engagement to fulfil the duties of hospitality to the Euro- 
peans. When the ceremony was over, Moulibahan retired 
without having uttered a word. 

“And now that we are naturalized Bechuanas,” said 
Colonel Everest, “let us begin our operations without 
losing a day or an hour.” 

And indeed no time was lost; still, such is the variety of 
detail required in the organization of an expedition of this 
character, the Commission was not ready to start until 
the beginning of March. That, however, was the time 
appointed by Colonel Everest; because then the rainy 
season just being over, the water, preserved in the fissures 
of the earth, would furnish a valuable resource to travellers 
in the desert. 

On the 2nd of March, then, the whole caravan, under 
Mokoum’s command, was ready. The Europeans took 
farewell of the missionaries at Lattakoo, and left the village 
at seven o'clock in the morning. 

“Where are we going, Colonel?” asked William Emery, 
‘as the caravan passed the last house in the town, 
“Straight on, Mr. Emery,” answered the Colonel, “until 


we reach a suitable place for establishing a base.” 


48 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 

At eight o'clock the caravan had passed over the low 
shrubby hills which skirt the town, and soon the desert, 
with its dangers, fatigues, and risks, lay unfolded before the 
travellers, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS, 4s 





CHAR TICRS Vit 


BETTER ACQUAINTANCE, 


THE escort under the bushman’s command was composed 
of roo men, all Bochjesmen—an industrious, good-tempered 
people, capable of enduring great physical fatigue. In 
former times, before the arrival of the missionaries, these 
Bochjesmen were a lying, inhospitable race, thinking of 
nothing but murder and pillage, and ever taking ad- 
vantage of an enemy’s sleep to massacre him. To a great 
extent the missionaries have modified these barbarous 
habits, but the natives are still more or less farm- re 
and cattle-lifters. 

Ten waggons, like'the vehicle which Mokoum had taken 
to the Morgheda Falls, formed the bulk of the expedition. 
Two of these were like moving houses, fitted up as they 
were with a certain amount of comfort, and served as an 
encampment for the Europeans; so that Colonel Everest 
and his companions were followed about by a wooden 
habitation with dry flooring, and well tilted with water- 

E 


50 MERIDIANA;, THE ADVENTURES OF S, 


proof cloth, and furnished with beds and toilet furniture. 
Thus, on arriving at each place of encampment, the tent 
was always ready pitched. Of these waggons, one was 
appropriated to Colonel Everest and his countrymen, Sir 
John Murray and William Emery: the other was used by 
the Russians, Matthew Strux, Nicholas Palander, and 
Michael Zorn. Two more, arranged in the same way, 
belonged, one to the five Englishmen and the other to the 
five Russians who composed the crew of the “Queen and 
Czar.” » 

The hull and machinery of the steamboat, taken to 
pieces and laid,on one of the waggons, followed the travel- 
lers, in case the Commission might come across some of the 
numerous lakes which are found in the interior of the 
continent. 

The remaining waggons carried the tools, provisions, 
baggage, arms, and ammunition, as well as the instruments 
required for the proposed triangular survey. The pro- 
visions of the Bochjesmen consisted principally of antelope, 
buffalo, or elephant meat, preserved in long strips, being 
dried in the sun or by a slow fire: thus economizing the 
use of salt, here very scarce. In the place of bread, the 
Bochjesmen depended on the earth-nuts of the arachis, the 
- bulbs of various species of mesembryanthemums, and other 
native productions. Animal food would be provided by 
the hunters of the party, who, adroitly employing their 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 5t 





bows and lances, would scour the plains and revictual the 
caravan, 

Six native oxen, long-legged, high-shouldered, and with 
great horns, were attached to each waggon with harness 
of buffalo hide. Thus the primitive vehicles moved slowly 
though surely on their massive wheels, ready alike for 
heights or valleys. For the travellers to ride there were. 
provided small black or grey Spanish horses, good- 
tempered, brave animals, imported from South America, 
and much esteemed at the Cape.. Among the troops of 
quadrupeds were also half-a-dozen tame quaggas, a kind 
of ass with plump bodies and slender legs, who make a 
noise like the barking of a dog. They were to be used in 
the smaller expeditions necessary to the geodetic opera- 
tions, and were adapted to carry the instruments where the 
waggons could not venture. The only exception to the 
others was the bushman, who rode a splendid zebra with 
remarkable grace and dexterity. This animal (the beauty 
of whose coat with its brown stripes especially excited the 
admiration of the connoisseur Sir John Murray) was 
naturally defiant and suspicious, and would not have borne 
any other rider than Mokoum, who had broken it in for his 
own use. Some dogs of a half-savage breed, sometimes 
wrongly called “hyena-hunters,” ran by the side of the 
waggons, their shape and long ears reminding one of the 
European brach-hound. 

E 2 


52 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





Such was the caravan which was about to bury itself in 
the deserts. The oxen advanced calmly under the guidance 
of-their drivers, ever and again pricking them in the flank 


” 


with their “jambox ;” and it was strange to see the troop 
winding along the hills in marching order. After leaving 
Lattakoo, whither was the expedition going? Colonel 
Everest had said, “Straight on ;” and indeed he and 
Matthew Strux could not yet follow a fixed course. What 
they wanted, before commencing their trigonometrical 
operations, was a vast level plain, on which to establish the 
base of the first of the triangles, which, like a network, were 
to cover for several degrees the southern part of Africa. 
The Colonel explained to the bushman what he wanted, - 
and with the calmness of one to whom scientific language 
is familiar, talked to him of triangles, adjacent angles, 
bases, meridians, zenith distances, and the like. Mokoum 
let him go on for a few moments, then interrupted him 
with an impatient movement, saying, “Colonel, I don’t 
know any thing about your angles, bases, and meridians. 
I don’t understand even in the least what you are going to 
do in the desert: but that is your business. You are 
asking for a large level plain; oh well, I can find you 
that.” 

And at his orders, the caravan, having just ascended the 
Lattakoo hills, turned down again towards the south-west. 
This took them rather more to the south of the village, 


ange 
ae 
ro 


V4 


AIST), Rear EN 

, EE ieee ah 

Paine noe eae ae 
zie id ‘ 
































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































William Emery and Michael Zorn in advance of the Expedition, —[Page 53.] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 53 


towards the plain watered by the Kuruman, and here the 
bushman expected to find a suitable place for the Colonel’s 
plans. From that day, he always took the head of the 
caravan. Sir John Murray, well mounted, never left him, 
and from time to time the report of a gun made his © 
colleagues aware that he was making acquaintance with 
the African game. The Colonel, quite absorbed in con- 
templating the difficulties of the expedition, let his horse 
carry him on. Matthew Strux, sometimes on horseback, 
sometimes in the waggon, according to the nature of the 
ground, seldom opened his lips. Nicholas Palander, as bad 
a rider as could be, was generally on foot; at other times 
he shut himself up in his vehicle, and there lost himself in 
the profoundest mathematical abstractions. 

Although William Emery and Michael Zorn occupied 
separate waggons: at night, they were always together 
when the caravan was on the march. Every day and 
every incident of the journey bound them in a closer 
friendship. From one stage to another they rode, talked, 
and argued together. Sometimes they fell behind the 
train, and sometimes rode on several miles ahead of it, 
when the plain extended as far as they could see. They 
were free here and lost amidst the wildness of nature. 
How they forgot figures and problems, calculations and 
observations, and chatted of every thing but science! 
They were no longer astronomers contemplating the starry 


54 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





—— 


firmament, but were more like two youths escaped from 
school, revelling in the dense forests and boundless plains. 
They laughed like ordinary mortals. Both of them had 
excellent dispositions, open, amiable, and devoted, forming 
a strange contrast to Colonel Everest and Matthew Strux, 
who were formal, not to say stiff. These two chiefs were 
often the subject of their conversation, and Emery learnt. 
a good deal about them from his friend. 

“Yes,” said Michael Zorn, that day, “I watched them 
well on board the ‘Augusta,’ and I profess I think they are 
jealous of each other. And if Colonel Everest appears to 
be at the head of things, Matthew Strux is not less than his 
equal: the Russian Government has clearly established his 
position. One chief is as imperious as the other; and be- 
sides, I tell you again, there is the worst of all jealousy 
between them, the jealousy of the learned.” 

“ And that for which there is the least occasion,” answered 
Emery, “ because in discoveries every thing has its value, 
and each one derives equal benefit. But, my dear Zorn, if, 
‘as I believe, your observations are correct, it is unfortunate 
for our expedition: in such a work there ought to be a 
perfect understanding.” 

“No doubt,” replied Zorn, “and I fear that that under- 
standing does not exist. Think of our confusion, if every 
detail, the choice of a base, the method of calculating, the 
position of the stations, the verification oi the figures, opens 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. © 55 





a fresh discussion every time! Unless Iam much mistaken. 
I forbode a vast deal of quibbling when we come to compare 
our registers, and the observations we shall have made to 
the minutest fraction.” . 

“You frighten me,” said Emery. “It would be sorrowful 
to carry an enterprise of this kind so far, and then to fail for 
want of concord. Let-us hope that your fears may not be 
realized.” 

“T hope they may not,” answered the young Russian ; 
“but I say again, I assisted at certain scientific discussions 
on the voyage, which showed me that both Colonel Everest 
and his rival are undeniably obstinate, and that at heart 
there is a miserable jealousy between them.” 

“But these two. gentlemen are never apart,” observed 
Emery. “You never find one without the other; they are as 
inseparable as ourselves.” 

“True,” replied Zorn, “they are never apart all day long, 
but then they never exchange ten words: they only keep 
watch on each other, If one doesn’t manage to annihilate 
the other, we shall indeed work under deplorable conditions.” 

“And for yourself,” asked William, hesitatingly, “ which 
of the two would you wish——’ 

“My dear William,” replied Zorn with much frankness, 
“T shall loyally accept him as chief who can command 
respect as such. This is a question of science, and I have 
no prejudice in the matter. Matthew Strux and the Colonel 


56 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


are both remarkable and worthy men: England and Russia 
should profit equally from their labours; therefore it mat- 
ters little whether the work is directed by an Englishman 
or a Russian. Are you not of my opinion?” 

“Quite,” answered Emery; “therefore do not let us be 
distracted by absurd prejudices, and let us as far as possible 
use our efforts for the common good. Perhaps it will be 
possible to ward off the blows of the two adversaries; 


‘and besides there is your fellow countryman, Nicholas 
Palander i 





“He!” laughed Zorn, “he will neither see, hear, nor com- 
prehend any thing! He would make calculations to any 
extent ; but he is neither Russian, Prussian, English, or 
Chinese; he is not even an inhabitant of this sublunary 
sphere ; he is Nicholas Palander, that’s all.” 

“T cannot say the same for my countryman, Sir John 
Murray,” said Emery. “He is a thorough Englishman, 
and a most determined hunter, and he would sooner follow 
the traces of an elephant and giraffe than give himself any 
trouble about a scientific argument. We must therefore 
depend upon ourselves, Zorn, to neutralize the antipathy 
between our chiefs. Whatever happens, we must hold 
together.” 

“ Ay, whatever happens,” replied Zorn, holding out his 
hand to his friend. , 

The bushman still continued to. guide the caravan down 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 57 








towards the south-west. At midday, on the 4th of March, 
it reached the base of the long wooded hills which extend 
from Lattakoo. Mokoum’was not mistaken; he had led 
the expedition towards the plain, but it was still undulated, 
and therefore unfitted foran attempt at triangulation. The 
march continued uninterrupted, and Mokoum rode at the 
head of the riders and waggons, while Sir John Murray, 
Emery, and Zorn pushed on in advance. Towards the end 
of the day, they all arrived at a station occupied by one of 
the wandering “boers,” or farmers, who are induced by the 
richness of the pasture-land to make temporary abodes in 
various parts of the country. 

The colonist, a Dutchman, and head of a large family, 
received the Colonel and his companions most hospitably, 
and would take no remuneration in return. He was one of 
those brave, industrious men, whose slender capital, intelli- 
gently employed in the breeding of oxen, cows, and goats, - 
soon producesa fortune. When the pasturage is exhausted, 
the farmer, like a patriarch of old, seeks for new springs 
and fertile prairies, pitching his camp afresh where the 
conditions seem favourable. 

The farmer opportunely told Colonel Everest of a wide 
plain, fifteen miles away, which would be found quite flat. 
The caravan started next morning at daybreak. The only 
incident that broke the monotony of the long morning 
march, was Sir John Murray’s taking a shot, at a distance 


58 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 

of more than 1000 yards, at a gnu, a curious animal about 
five feet high, with the muzzle of an ox, a long white tail, 
and pointed horns. It fell with a heavy groan, much to 
the astonishment of the bushman, who was surprised at 
seeing the animal struck at such a distance. The gnu 
generally affords a considerable quantity of excellent meat, 
and was accordingly in high esteem among the hunters of 
the caravan. 

The site indicated by the farmer was reached about 
midday. It was a boundless prairie stretching to the 
north without the slightest undulation. No better spot for 
measuring a base could be imagined, and the bushman, 
after a short investigation, returned to Colonel Everest 
with the announcement that they had reached the place 
they were seeking, . . 




































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Bushman pointing to the Plain,—[Page 58.] 


- 

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Vet el ee ee a meee oe 
Ay = ag 


eh cre 


Pa be 


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a 


te 





TIIREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 59 








le 


CHAPTER VIL. 
THE BASE OF THE TRIANGLE. 


THE work undertaken by the Commission was a triangu- 
lation for the purpose of measuring an arc of meridian. 
Now the direct measurement of one or more degrees by 
means of metal rods would be impracticable. In no part 
of the world is there a region so vast and unbroken as to 
admit of so delicate an operation. Happily, there is an 
easier way of proceeding by dividing the region through 
which the meridian passes into a number of imaginary 
triangles, whose solution is comparatively easy. 

These triangles are obtained by observing signals, either 
natural or artificial, such as church-towers, posts, or rever- 
beratory lamps, by means of the theodolite or repeating- 
circle. Every signal is the vertex of a triangle, whose 
angles are exactly determined by the instruments, so that 
a good observer with a proper telescope can take the bear- 
ings of any object whatever, a tower by day, or a lamp by 
night. Sometimes the sides of the triangles are many 
miles in length, and when Arago connected the coast of . 


60 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





Valencia in Spain with the Balearic Islands, one of the | 
sides measured 422,555 toises. When one side and two 
angles of any triangle are known, the other sides and angle 
may be found; by taking, therefore, a side of one of the 
known triangles for a new base, and by measuring the 
angles ‘adjacent to the base, new triangles can be suc- 
cessively formed along’ the whole length of the arc; and 
since every straight line in the network of : triangles is 
known, the length of the arc can be easily determined. 
The values of the sides and angles may be obtained by | 
the theodolite and repeating circle, but the first side, the 
base of the whole system, must be actually measured on the | 
ground, and this operation requires the utmost care. 

When Delambre and Méchain measured the meridian of 
France from Dunkirk to Barcelona, they took for their 
base a straight line, 12,150 metres in length, in the road 
from Melun to Lieusaint, and they were no less than 42 
days in measuring it. Colonel Everest and Matthew Strux 
designed proceeding in the same way, and it will be seen 
_ how much precision was.necessary. 

The work was begun on the 5th of March, much to the 
astonishment of the Bochjesmen, who could not at all 
understand it. Mokoum thought it strange for these learned 
men to measure the earth with rods six feet long; but any 
way, he had done his duty ; they had asked him for a level 
plain, and he had found it for them. 


G ghee bonier ete 


aa 
ng 
= ty 


AEKER tof i 


















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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“ph 
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Hug 










































































































































































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Commencement of the Geodesic Operations. —[Page 61.] 


\ 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. — 61 





The place was certainly well chosen. Covered with dry, 
short grass, the plain was perfectly level as far as the 
horizon. Behind lay a line of hills forming the southern © 
boundary of the Kalahari desert; towards the north the 
plain seemed boundless, To the east, the sides of the table- 

land of Lattakoo disappeared in gentle slopes; and in the 

west, where the ground was lower, the soil became marshy, 
as it imbibed the stagnant water which fed the affluents of 
the Kuruman. 

“T think, Colonel Everest,” said Strux, after he had 
surveyed the grassy level, “that when our base is esta- 
blished, we shall be able here also to fix the extremity of 

- our meridian.” 

“ Likely enough,” replied the Colonel. “ We must find 
out too, whether the arc meets with any obstacles that may 
impede the survey. Let us measure the base, and we will 
decide afterwards whether it will be better to join it by a 
series of auxiliary triangles to those which the arc must 
cross.” 3 a 

They thus resolved to proceed to the measurement of 
the base. It would be a long operation, for they wanted 
to obtain even more correct results than those obtained by 
the French philosophers at Melun. This would be a matter 

of some difficulty : since when a new base was measured 
afterwards near Perpignan to verify the calculations, there 
was only an error of 11 inches in a distance of 330,000 toises. 


62 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 
? 


Orders were given for encamping, and a Bochjesman 
village, a kind of kraal, was formed on the plain. The 
waggons were arranged in a circle like the houses, the 
English and Russian flags floating over their respective 
quarters. The centre was common’ground. The horses 
and buffaloes, which by day grazed outside, were driven 
in by night to the interior, to save them from attacks 
of the wild beasts around. 

Mokoum took upon himself to arrange the hunting 
expedition for revictualling ; and Sir John Murray, whose 
presence was not indispensable in the measurement of the 
base, looked after the provisions, and served out the rations 
of preserved meat and fresh venison. Thanks to the skill 
and experience of Mokoum and his companions, game was 
never wanting. They scoured the district for miles round, 
and the report of their guns resounded at all hours. 

The survey began on the next day, Zorn and Emery 
being charged with the preliminaries. ? 

“Come along,” said Zorn, “and good luck be with us.” 

The primary operation consisted in tracing a line on 
the ground where it was especially level. This chanced to 
be from S.E. to N.W., and pickets being placed at short 
intervals to mark the direction, Zorn carefully verified the 
correctness of their position by means of the thread-wires of 
his telescope. For more than eight miles (the proposed 
length of the base) was the measurement continued, and 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 63 


the young men performed their work with scrupulous 
fidelity. | 

The next step was to adjust the rods for the actual 
measurement, apparently a very simple operation, but 
which, in fact, demands the most continuous caution, as 
the success of a triangulation in a great measure is con- 
tingent on its preciseness, 

On the morning of the 1oth, twelve wooden pedestals 
were planted along the line, securely fastened in their posi- 
tion, and prepared to support the rods, Colonel Everest and 
Matthew Strux, assisted by their young coadjutors, placed 
the rods in position, and Nicholas Palander stood ready, 
pencil in hand, to write down in a double register the 
figures transmitted to him. 

The rods employed were six in number, and exactly two 
toises in length. They were made of platinum, as being 
(under ordinary circumstances) unaffected by any condi- 
tion of the atmosphere. In order, however, to provide 
against any change of temperature, each was covered with 
a rod of copper somewhat shorter than itself, and a micro- 
scopic vernier was attached, to indicate any contraction or 
expansion that might occur, The rods were next placed 
lengthwise, with a small interval between each, in order to 
avoid the slight shock which might result from immediate 
contact. Colonel Everest and Matthew Strux with their 
own hands placed the first rod. About a hurdred toises 


64 _ MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





farther on, they had marked a point of sight, and as the 
rods were each provided with iron projections, it was not 
difficult to place them exactly in the proper direction. 
Emery and Zorn, lying on the ground, saw that the pro- 
jections stood exactly in the middle of the sight. 

“Now,” said Colonel Everest, “we must define our exact 
: starting-point. We will drop a line from the end of our first 
rod, and that will definitely mark the extremity of our base.” 

“Yes,” answered Strux, “but we must take into account 
the radius of the line. : 

“Of course,” said the Colonel. 

The starting-point determined,’the work went on. The 
next proceeding was to determine the inclination of the 
base with the horizon. 

“We do not, I believe, pretend,” said Colonel Everest, 
“to place the rod in a position which is perfectly horizontal.” 

“No,” answered Strux, “it is enough to find the angle 
which each rod makes with the horizon, and we can then 
deduce the true inclination.” 

Thus agreed, they proceeded with their ‘abeehatiens 
employing their spirit-level, and testing every result by the | 
vernier. As Palander was about to inscribe the record, Strux _ 
requested that the level should be reversed, in order that 
by the division of the two registers a closer approxima- 
tion to truth might be attained. This mode of double 
observation was continued throughout the operations. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 65 


' Two important points were now obtained : the direction 
of the rod with regard to the base, and the angle which it 
made with the horizon. The results were inscribed in two 
registers, and signed by the members of the Commission. 

_ There were still two further observations, no less impor- 
tant, to be made: the variation of the rod caused by 
differences of temperature, and the exact distance measured 
by it. The former was easily determined by comparing 
the difference in length between the platinum and copper 
rods. The microscope gave the variation of the platinum, 
and this was entered in the double register, to be after- 
wards reduced to 16° Centigrade. | 

They had now to observe the distance actually measured. 
To obtain this result, it was necessary to place the second 
rod at the end of the first, leaving a small space between 
them. When the second rod was adjusted with the same 
care as the former, it only remained to measure the interval 
between the two. A small tongue of platinum, known as 
a slider, was attached to the end of the platinum bar that 
was not covered by the copper, and this Colonel Everest 
slipped gently along until it touched the next rod. The 
slider was marked off into 10,oooths of a toise, and as a 
vernier with its microscope gave the 100,o0oths, the space - 
could be very accurately determined. The result was 
immediately registered. 

Michael Zorn, considering that the covered platinum 

F 


66 | MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





might be sooner affected by heat than the uncovered 
copper, suggested another precaution: accordingly they 
erected a small awning to protect the rod from the sun’s 
rays. 

For more than a month were these minutize patiently 
carried on. As soon as four bars were adjusted, and the 
requisite observations complete, the last of the rods was 
. carried to the front. It was impossible to measure more 
than 220 to 230 toises a day, and sometimes, when the 
wind was violent, operations were altogether suspended. 

Every evening, about three quarters of an hour before it 
became too dark to read the verniers, they left off work, 
after taking various anxious precautions. ‘They brought 
forward temporarily the rod “No. 1,” and marked the point 
of its termination. -Here they made a hole, and drove in a 
stake with a leaden plate attached. They then replaced 
“No. 1” in its original position, after observing the inclina- 
tion, the thermometric variation, and the direction. They 
noted the prolongation measured-by rod “ No. 4,” and then 
with a plumb-line touching the foremost end of rod — 
“No. 1,” they made a mark on the leaden plate. They 
carefully traced through this point two lines at right angles, 
one signifying the base, the other the perpendicular. The 
plate was then covered with a wooden lid, the hole filled 
in, and the stake left buried till the morning. Thus, if any _ 
accident had happened to their apparatus during the night 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 67 





they would not be obliged to begin afresh. The next day, 
_ the plate was uncovered, and rod “No. 1” replaced in the 
same position as on the evening before, by means of the 
_plumb-line, whose point ought to fall exactly on the point 
intersected by the two straight lines. 

These operations were carried on for thirty-eight days 
along the plain, and every figure was registered doubly, 
and verified, compared, and approved, by each member , 
of the Commission. 

Few discussions arose between Colonel Everest and _ his 
Russian colleague ; and if sometimes the smallest fraction 
of a toise gave occasion for some polite cavillings, they - 
always yielded to the opinion of the majority. One ques- 
tion alone called for the intervention of Sir John Murray. 
This was about the length of the base. It was certain that 
the longer the base, the easier would be the measurement 
of the opposite angle. Colonel Everest proposed 6000 
toises, nearly the same as the base measured at Melun; 
but Matthew Strux wished that it should be 10,000 toises, 
since the ground permitted. Colonel Everest, “however, 
remained firm, and Strux seemed equally determined not 
to yield. After a few plausible arguments, personalities 
began: they were no longer two astronomers, but an 
Englishman and a Russian. Happily the debate was in- 
terrupted by some days of bad weather, which allowed 
their tempers to cool. It was subsequently decided by the 
| F 2 


68 -.MERIDIANA; THE. ADVENTURES OF 


majority that they should “split the difference,” and assign 
8000 toises as the measurement of the base. The work 
was at length completed. Any error which occurred, in 
spite of their extreme precision, might be -afterwards  cor- 
rected by measuring a new base from the northern ex- 
tremity of the meridian. 

The base measured exactly 8037.75 toises, and upon this 
they were now to place their series of.triangles, - 


































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Measuring the Arc of the Meridian, — [Page 69. ] 






































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Taking the Measurements. — [Page 69. ] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. : 69 


CHAPTER VIII. 
THE TWENTY-FOURTH MERIDIAN, 


THE measurement of the base occupied thirty-eight days, 
from the 6th of March to the 13th of April, and without 
loss of time the chiefs decided to begin the triangles. The 
first operation was to find the southern extremity of the arc, 
and the same being done at the northern extremity, the 
difference would give the number of degrees measured, 

On the 14th they began to find their latitude. Emery 
- and Zorn had already on the preceding nights taken the 
altitude of numerous stars, and their work was so accurate 
that the greatest error was not more than 2”, and even this 
was probably owing to the refraction caused by the changes . 
in the atmospheric strata. The latitude thus carefully 
sought was found to be 27.951789°. They then found the 
longitude, and marked the spot on an excellent large scale 
map of South Africa, which showed the most recent geo- 
graphical discoveries, and also the routes of travellers and 
naturalists, such as Livingstone, Anderson, Magyar, Baldwin, 


70 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





Burchell, and Lichtenstein. They then had to choose on 
what meridian they would measure their arc. The longer 
this arc is the less influence have the errors in the deter- 
mination of latitude. Thearc from Dunkirk to Formentera, 
on the meridian of Paris, was exactly 9° 56’. They had to 
choose their meridian with great circumspection. Any 
natural obstacles, such as mountains or large tracts of 
water, would seriously impede their operations; but hap- 
pily, this part of Africa seemed well suited to their purpose, 
since the risings in the ground were inconsiderable, and the 
few watercourses easily traversed. -Only dangers, and not 
obstacles, need check their labours. 

This district is occupied by the Kalahari desert, a vast 
region extending from the Orange River to Lake Ngami, 
from lat. 20° S. to lat. 29°. In width, it extends from the 
Atlantic on the west as far as long. 25° E. Dr. Livingstone 
followed its extreme eastern boundary when he travelled as 
far as Lake Ngami and the Zambesi Falls. Properly 
speaking, it does not deserve the name of desert. It is not 
like the sands of Sahara, which are devoid of vegetation, 
and almost impassable on account of their aridity. The 
Kalahari produces many plants ;* its soil is covered with 
abundant grass; it contains dense groves and forests; 
animals abound, wild game and beasts of prey ; and it is 
inhabited and traversed by sedentary and wandering tribes 
of Bushmen and Bakalaharis. But the true obstacle to its 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. va 
exploration is the dearth of water which prevails through 
the greater, part of the year,-when the rivers are dried up. 
However, at this time, just at the end of the rainy season, 
they could depend upon considerable reservoirs o. stagnant 
water, preserved in pools and rivu- 
lets. Such werethe particulars given 
by Mokoum. He had often visited 
the Kalahari, sometimes on his own 
account as a hunter, and sometimes 
as a guide to some geographical 
exploration. 

It had now to be actually con- 
sidered whether the meridian should 
be taken from one of the extremi- 
ties of the base, thus avoiding a 
series of auxiliary triangles’. 


1 By the aid of the accompanying figure, the 
work called a triangulation may be understood. 
Let A B be the arc. Measure the base AC 
very carefully from the extremity A to the first 
station C. Take other stations, D, E, F, G, H, I, 
&c., on alternate sides of the meridian, and 
observe the angles of the triangles, A C D, 
CDE, DEF, EFG, &c. Then in the 
triangle A C D, the angles and the side AC ) 
being known, the side C D may be found. Ai 
Likewise in the triangle C D E, C D and the 
angles being known, the side D E may be 
found ; and so on through all the triangles. 
Now determine the direction of the meridian 
in the ordinary way, and observe the angle 
M AC which it makes with the base AC. 





wuwe cee ee -e — -- 


* 
io) 
By 


e. 


7% MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 

After some discussion, it was decided that the southern 
extremity of the base would serve for a starting-point. It 
was the twenty-fourth meridian east from Greenwich, and 
extended over seven degrees of latitude, from 20° to 27°, 
without any apparent natural obstacle. Towards the north 
it certainly crossed the eastern end of Lake Ngami, but 
Arago had met with greater difficulties than-this when he 
applied his geodesy to connect the coast of Spain with the 
Balearic Islands. It was accordingly decided that meridian 
- 24° should be measured, since, if it were afterwards pro- 
longed into Europe, a northern arc of the same meridian 
might be measured on Russian territory. | 

The astronomers proceeded at once to choose a station 
which should form the vertex of the first triangle. This 
was a solitary tree to the right of the meridian, standing on 
a mound about ten miles away. It was distinctly visible 
from each extremity of the base, and its slender top facili- 
tated the taking of its bearings. The angle made by the 
tree with the south-east extremity of the base was first 


Then in the triangle A C M, because A C and the ‘adjacent angles are known, 
A M, CM, and the angle A C M, ‘may be found, and A M is the first por- 
tion of the arc. Then in the triangle D MN, since'the side DM = € D — 
C M, and the adjacent angles are known, the sides M N, DN, and the angle 
M N D may be found, and M N is the next portion of ‘the arc. _ Again, in 
the triangle N E P, because EN = D E — DN, and the adjacent angles are 
known, N P, the third portion of the arc, may be found. By proceeding 
thus through all the triangles, piece by piece, the whole length of the arc A B 
may be determined. : 























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































‘The Astronomers at Work.—[Page 72. | 


3 
% 


=| 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 73 


observed, with the help of one of Borda’s repeating © 
circles. ; 

The two telescopes were adjusted so that their axes were 
exactly in the plane of the circle, in such a way that their 
position represented the angular distance between the tree 
and the north-west extremity of the base. This admirably- 
constructed instrument corrects nearly all the errors of ob- 
servation, and indeed, if the repetitions are numerous, the 
errors tend to counterbalance and correct each other. 

The Commission had four repeating circles: two for 
measuring angles, and two more with vertical circles for 
obtaining zenith distances, and so calculating in a single 
night, to the smallest fraction of a second, the latitude of 
any station. And indeed, in this important survey, it was 
not only necessary to obtain the value of the angles of the 
triangles, but also to measure the meridian altitude of the 
stars, that being equal to the latitude of each station. 

The work began on the 14th of April. Colonel Everest, 
Zorn, and Palander observed the angle at the south-east 
extremity of the base, while Strux, Emery, and Sir John 
Murray observed that at the nerth-west extremity. 

Meantime the camp was raised, and the bullocks har- 
nessed, and Mokoum conducted the caravan to the first 
_ station as ahalting-place. Two caravans, with their drivers, 
accompanied the observers, to carry the instruments. The 
weather was bright, but had the atmosphere been unfavour- 


74 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 
able by day, the observations would have been made by 
night by means of reverberators or electric lamps. 

On the first day, the two angles were measured, and the 
result inscribed on the double register ; and the astronomers 
all met in the evening at the camp which had been formed 
round the tree which had served for their point of sight. It 
was an immense baobab, more than 8o feet in circumference. 
Its syenite-coloured bark gave it a peculiar appearance, 
The whole caravan found room beneath its wide branches, 
which were inhabited by crowds of squirrels, which greedily 
devoured the white pulp of its egg- -shaped fruit. . 

Supper was prepared for the —Europeans by the ship's 
cook. There was no lack of venison, for the hunters had 
scoured the neighbourhood, and killed some antelopes ; 
and soon the air was filled with an odour of broiled meat, 
which - still further aroused the appetite of the hungry 
savants. : | 

After the comforting repast, the astronomers retired to 
their respective waggons, whilst Mokoum placed sentinels 
round the camp. Large fires of the dead branches of the 
baobab burnt throughout the night, and kept at a respectful 
distance the tawny beasts, who were attracted by the odour 
of the reeking flesh. | | 

After two ‘hours’ sleep, however, Emery and Zorn got up, 
their observations not yet finished. They must find the 


altitudes of some stars to determine the latitude of the 


il 
ly 


li 


| 


in 








-] 


.—[Page 74 


Baobab. 


immense 


Encampment under an 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 75 


station, and both, regardless of the day’s fatigues, stood at 
their telescopes, and rigorously determined the change of 
zenith caused by the removal from the first station to the 
second, while the laugh of the hyena and the roar of the 
lion resounded over the sombre plain. 


- 


76 MERIDIANA, THE ADVENTURES OF 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE KRAAL. 


THE next day operations were continued. The angle 
made by the baobab with the extremities of the base was 
measured, and the first triangle solved. Two more stations 
were chosen to the right and left of the meridian ; one formed } 
by a distinct mound, six miles away ; the other, marked out 
by a post about seven miles distant. 

The triangulation went on uninterruptedly for a month, 
and by the 15th of May the observers had advanced north- 
wards 1°, having formed seven triangles. During this first 
series of operations, the Colonel and Strux were rarely to- 
gether. The division of labour separated them, and the 
circumstance of their daily work being several miles apart 
was a guarantee against any dispute. Each evening they 
returned to their several abodes, and although at intervals 
discussions arose about the choice of stations, there was no 
serious altercation. Hence Zorn and his friend were in 
hopes that the survey would proceed without any open 
rupture. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND TIIREE RUSSIANS. 777 





After advancing 1° from the south, the observers found 
themselves in the same parallel with Lattakoo, from which 
they were distant 35 miles to the west. 

Here a large kraal had lately been formed, and as it was 
a marked halting-place, Sir John Murray proposed that 
they should stay for several days. Zorn and Emery could 
take advantage of the rest, to take the altitude of the sun ; 
and Palander would employ himself in reducing the mea- 
surements made at different points of sight to the uniform 
level of the sea. Sir John himself wanted to be free from 
scientific observations, that he might divert himself with his 
gun among the fauna of the country. A kraal, as it is 
termed by the natives of South Africa, is a kind of moving 
village, wandering from one pasturage to another. It isan 
enclosure composed ordinarily of about thirty habitations, 
and containing several hundred inhabitants. The kraal 
now reached was formed by a group of more than sixty huts, 
enclosed for protection from wild animals by a palisade of 
prickly aloes, and situated on the banks of a small affluent 
of the Kuruman. The huts, made of water-proof rush mats 
fastcned to wooden beams, were like low hives. The door- 
way, protected by a skin, was so small that it could only 
be entered on hands and knees, and from this, the only 
aperture, issued such dense wreaths of smoke as would 
make existence in these abodes problematical to any but a 


Bochjesman or a Hottentot. 


78 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





The whole population was roused by the arrival of the 
caravan. The dogs, of which there was one for the protec- 
tion of each cabin, barked furiously, and about 200 warriors, ' 
armed with assagais, knives, and clubs, and protected by 
their leathern shields, marched forward. 

A few words from Mokoum to one of the chiefs soon 
dispelled all hostile feeling, and the caravan obtained per- 
mission to encamp on the very banks of the stream. The 
-Bochjesmen did not even refuse to share the pastures, 
which extended for miles away. 

Mokoum having first given orders for the waggons to be 
placed ina circle as usual, mounted his zebra, and set off 
in company with Sir John Murray, who rode his accustomed 
horse. The hunters took their dogs and rifles, showing 
their intention of attacking the wild beasts, and went 
towards the woods. 

“T hope, Mokoum,” said Sir John, “that you are going 
to keep the promise you made at the Morgheda Falls, that 
you would bring me into the best sporting country in the 
world. But understand, I have not come here for hares or 
foxes ; I can get them at home. Before another hour——” 

“Hour!” replied the bushman. “You are rather too 
fast. A little patience, please. For myself, I am never 
patient except when hunting, and then I make amends for 
all my impatience at other times. Don’t you know, Sir 


John, that the chase of large beasts is quite a science. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 79 


Here you must wait and watch. You must not step or 
even look too quickly. For my part, I have laid in wait 
for days together for a buffalo or gemsbok, and if I have 
had success at last, I have not considered my trouble in 
vain.” 3 

“Very good,” replied Sir John, “T can show you as much 
patience as you can wish; but mind, the halt only lasts for 
three or four days, and we must lose no time.” 

“There is something in that,’ said the bushman, so 
calmly that Emery would not have recognized his com- 
panion of the Orange River; “we will just kill that which 
comes first, Sir John, antelope or deer, gnu or gazelle, any 
thing must do for hunters in a hurry.” 

“Antelope or gazelle!” cried Sir John, “why, what 
more could J ask, my good fellow ?” 

“ As long as your honour is satisfied I have nothing more 
to say,’ said the bushman, somewhat ironically. “I thought 
that you would not let me off with any thing less than a 
rhinoceros or two, or at least an elephant.” 

“ Any thing and any where,” said Sir John, “we only 
waste time in talking.” . 

The horses were put to a hand-gallop, and the hunters — 
advanced quickly towards the forest. The plain rose with 
a gentle slope towards the north-east. It was dotted here 
and there with shrubs in full bloom, from which issued a 


viscous resin, transparent and odorous, of which the colonists 


80 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


make a balm for wounds. In picturesque groups rose the. 
“nwanas,’ a kind of sycamore fig, whose trunks, leafless to 
the height of 30 or 40 feet, supported a spreading parasol 
of verdure. Among the foliage chattered swarms of scream- 
ing parrots, eagerly pecking the sour figs. Farther on were 
mimosas with their yellow clusters, “silver trees,’ shaking 
their silky tufts, and aloes with spikes so red that they 
might pass for coral plants torn from the depths of the sea. 
The ground, enamelled with amaryllis with their bluish 
foliage, was smooth and easy for the horses, and in less 
than an hour after leaving the kraal, the sportsmen reached 
the wood. For several miles extended a forest of acacias, 
the entangled branches scarcely allowing a ray of sunlight 
to penetrate to the ground below, which was encumbered 
_by brambles and long grass. . 

The hunters had little difficulty, however, in urging on 
both horse and zebra, in spite of every obstacle, resting at — 
the recurring glades to examine the thickets around them. 
The first day was not very favourable. In vain was the 
forest scoured ; not a single beast stirred, and Sir John’s 
thoughts turned more than once to the plains of Scotland, 
where a shot is rarely long delayed. Mokoum evinced 
neither surprise nor vexation ; to him it was not a hunt, but 
merely a rush across the forest. | 

Towards six in the evening they had to think about 


returning. Sir John was more vexed than he would allow. 


7, oS 
Wis VF 


LLP if Za 





The Hunters. — [Page 8o. ] 


SF a Zags 


« 


Matae 
See Sa 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. SI 





Rather than that he, the renowned hunter, should return 
empty-handed, he resolved to shoot whatever first came 
within range, and fortune seemed to favour him. 

They were not more than three miles from the kraal 
when a hare (of the species called “ lepus rupestris”’) darted 
from a bush about 150 paces in front of them. Sir John 
_ did not hesitate a moment, and sent his explosive ball after 
the poor little animal. 

The bushman gave a cry of indignation at such a ball 
being employed for such an aim; but the Englishman, 
eager for his prey, galloped to the spot where the victim 
fell. In vain! the only vestiges of the hare were the bloody 
morsels on the ground. Whilst the dogs rummaged in the 
brushwood, Sir John looked keenly about, and cried,— 

“T am sure I hit it!” 

“ Rather too well,” replied the bushman quietly. 

And sure enough, the hare had been blown into countless 
fragments. 

Sir John, greatly mortified, remounted his horse, and 
returned to camp, without uttering another word. 

The next day the bushman waited for Sir John Murray 
to propose another expedition ; but the Englishman applied 
himself for a time to his scientific instruments. For pastime 
he watched the occupants of the kraal as they practised 
with their bows, or played on the “gorah,” an instrument 
composed of a piece of catgut stretched on a bow, and kept 

G 


82 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





in vibration by blowing through an ostrich feather. He 
remarked that the women, while occupied in their domestic 


a9 


duties, smoked “ matokouané,” that is, the unwholesome 
hemp-plant, a practice indulged in by most of the natives. 
According to some travellers, this inhaling of hemp increases 
physical strength to the damage of mental energy; and, 
indeed, many of the Bochjesmen appeared stupefied from 
its effects. 

At dawn, however, the following day, Sir John Murray 
was aroused by the appearance of Mokoum, who said, “I 
think, sir, we may be fortunate enough to-day to find some- 
thing better than a hare.” 

Sir John, not heeding the satire, declared iniselt ready ; 
and the two hunters, accordingly, were off betimes. This 
time, Sir John, instead of his formidable rifle, carried a 
simple gun of Goldwin’s, as being a more suitable weapon. 
True, there was a chance of meeting some prowling beast 
from the forest ; but he had the hare on his mind, and would 
sooner use small shot against a lion than repeat an incident 
unprecedented in the annals of sport. 

Fortune, to-day, was more favourable to the hunters. 
They brought down a couple of harrisbucks, a rare kind of 
black antelope, very difficult to shoot. These were charm- | 
ing animals, four feet high, with long diverging horns shaped 
like scimitars. The tips of their noses were narrow ; they 
had black hoofs, close soft hair, and pointed ears. Their 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 83 


face and belly, white as snow, contrasted well with their 
black back, over which fell a wavy mane. Hunters may 
well be proud of such shots, for the harrisbuck has © 
always been the desideratum of the Delegorgues, Vahlbergs, 
Cummings, and Baldwins, and it is one of the finest speci- 
mens of the southern fauna. 

But what made the Englishman’s heart beat fastest, was 
Mokoum’s showing him certain marks on the edge of the 
thick underwood, not far from a deep pool, surrounded by 
giant euphorbias, and whose surface was dotted with sky- 
blue water-lilies. 

“Come and lie in ambush here to-morrow, sir,” said 
Mokoum, “and this time you may bring your rifle. Look at 
these fresh footprints.” 

«What are they ? Can they be an elephant’s ?” asked 
Sir John. 

“Yes,” replied Mokoum, “and, unless Iam mistaken, of 
a male full-grown.” 

Eagerly, then, was the engagement made for the following 
day. Sir John’s horse, as they returned, carried the harris- 
bucks. These fine creatures, so rarely captured, excited 
the admiration of the whole caravan, and all congratulated 
Sir John, except perhaps Matthew Strux, who knew little 
of animals, except the Great Bear, the Centaur, Pegasus, 
and other celestial fauna. | | | 

At four o’clock the next morning, the hunters, attended 

GZ 


84 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


by their dogs, were already hidden in the underwood. They 
had discovered by new footmarks that the elephants came 
in a troop to drink atthe pool. Their grooved rifles carried 
explosive bullets. Silent and still, they watched for about 
half-an-hour, when they observed a movement in the grove, 
about fifty paces from the pool. Sir John seized his gun, 
but the bushman made him a sign to restrain his impatience. 
Soon large shadows appeared: the thickets rustled under . 
the violence of some pressure; the brushwood snapped and 
crackled, and the sound of a loud breathing was perceptible 
through the branches. It was the herd of elephants. Half- 
a-dozen gigantic creatures, almost as large as those of India, 
advanced slowly towards the pool. The increasing daylight 
allowed Sir John, struck with admiration, to notice espe- 
cially a male of enormous size. His colossal proportions 
appeared in the partial light even greater than they really 
were. While his trunk was extended above the underwood, 
with his curved tusks he struck the great stems, which 
groaned under the shock. The bushman leant down close 
to Sir John’s ear, and whispered,— 
““ Will he suit you ?” 


Sir John made a sign of affirmation. 


“Then,” said Mokoum, “we will separate him from the 
rest.” 

At this instant, the elephants reached the edge of the 

pool, and their spongy feet sank into the soft mud. They 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS, (85 


pumped up the water with their trunks, and poured it into 
their throats with a loud gurgling. The great male looked 
uneasily about him, and seemed to scent some approaching 
danger. 

Suddenly the bushman gave a peculiar cry. The dogs, 
barking furiously, darted from concealment, and rushed to- 
wards the herd. At the same moment, Mokoum, charging 
his companion to remain where he was, went off on his 
zebra to intercept the elephant’s retreat, The animal made 
no attempt to take flight, and Sir John, with his finger on 
the lock of his rifle, watched him closely. The brute beat 
the trees, and lashed his tail furiously, showing signs not of 
uneasiness, but of anger. Now, for the first time, catching 
sight of his enemy, he rushed upon him at once. 

Sir John was about sixty paces distant ; and waiting till 
the elephant came within forty paces, he aimed at his flank 
and fired. But a movement of the horse made his aim 
unsteady, and the ball only entered the soft flesh without 
meeting any obstacle sufficient to make it explode. 

The enraged beast increased its pace, which was rather a 
rapid walk than a run, and would have soon distanced the 
horse. Sir John’s horse reared, and rushed from the thicket, 
his master unable to hold him in. The elephant followed, 
ears erect, and bellowing like a trumpet. Sir John, thus 
carried away, held on to his horse tightly with his knees, 


and endeavoured to slip a cartridge into the chamber of his 


86 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


rifle.. Still the elephant gained on him, They were soon 
beyond the wood, and out on the plain. Sir John vigo- 
rously used his spurs, and the two dogs rushed panting in . 
the rear. The elephant was not two lengths behind. Sir 
John could hear the hissing of his trunk, and almost feel 
his strong breath. Every moment he expected to be 
dragged from his saddle by the living lasso. All at once 
the horse sunk on his hind-quarters, struck by the elephant 
on his haunches, He neighed, and sprung to one side, thus 
saving Sir John. The elephant, unable to check his course, 
passed on, and sweeping the ground with his trunk, caught 
up one of the dogs, and shook it in the air with tremendous 
violence. No resource remained except to re-enter the 
wood, and the horse’s instinct carried him thither. The 
elephant continued to give chase, brandishing the unlucky 
dog, whose head he smashed against a sycamore as he 
rushed into the forest. The horse darted into a dense 
thicket entangled with prickly creepers, and stopped. 

- Sir John, torn and bleeding, but not for an instant dis- 
composed, turned round, and shouldering his rifle, took aim 
at the elephant close to the shoulder, through the net-work 
of creepers. The ball exploded as it struck the bone. 
The animal staggered, and almost at the same moment 
a second shot from the edge of the wood struck his left 
flank. He fell on his knees near a little pool, half=:hidden 
in the grass, There, pumping up the water with his 


LEE 


¥. 





























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Elephant and the Dog.—[Page 86. ] 


ees 


pape 


prs 


























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































‘¢ He is ours! he is ours !’’—[Page 87.] 


eee 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 87 


trunk, he began to wash his wounds, uttering plaintive 
cries. The bushman now appeared, shouting, “ He is ours, 
he is ours!’ 

And in truth the animal was mortally. wounded. He 
groaned piteously, and breathed hard. His tail moved 
feebly, and his trunk, fed from the pool of his blood, poured 
back a crimson stream on the surrounding brushwood. 
Gradually failed his strength, and the great beast was 
dead. 

Sir John Murray now emerged from the grove. He was 
half naked, little of his hunting costume remaining but 
rags. But he felt as though he could have given his very 
_ skin for this triumph. ; 

“ A glorious fellow!” he exclaimed, as he examined the 
carcase; “but rather too big to carry home.” 

“True, sir,’ answered Mokoum ; “we will cut him up 
on the spot, and carry off the choice parts. Look at his 
magnificent tusks |! Twenty-five pounds a-piece at least ! 
And ivory at five shillings a-pound will mount up.” 

Thus talking, the hunter proceeded to cut up the animal. 
He took off the tusks with his hatchet, and contented him- 
self with the feet and trunk, as choice morsels. with 
which to regale the members of the Commission. This 
operation took some time, and he and his companion did ~ 
not get back to camp before midday. The bushman had 
the elephant’s feet cooked according to the African method, 


88 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES. OF 


that is, by burying them ina hole Pee heated, like 
an oven, with hot coals. ; 
The delicacy was fully appreciated by all, not excepting 
the phlegmatic Palander, and Sir John Murray received a 
hearty round of compliments. 


we 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 8g 





7 =e 


CHAPTER. OX. 
‘THE RAPID. 


DURING their sojourn by the kraal, Colonel Everest and 
Matthew Strux had been absolutely strangers. On the 
eve of their departure for their divided labours, they had 
ceremoniously taken leave one of the other, and had not 
since met. The caravan continued its northward route, 
and the weather being favourable, during the next ten 
days,two fresh triangles were measured. The vast verdant 
wilderness was intersected by streams flowing between rows 
of the willow-like “karree-hout,” from which the Bochjesmen 
make their bows. Large tracts of desert land occurred, 
where every trace of moisture disappeared, leaving the soil 
utterly bare but for the cropping-up occasionally of those 
mucilaginous plants which no aridity can kill. For miles 
there was no natural object that could be used for a station, 
and consequently the astronomers were obliged to employ 
natural objects for their point of sight. This caused con- 
siderable loss of time, but was not attended with much real 


go . MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


difficulty. The crew of the “Queen and Czar” were em- 
ployed in this part of the work, and performed their task 
well and rapidly.; but the same jealousy that divided their 
chiefs crept in sometimes among the seamen. Zorn and 
Emery did all they could to neutralize any unpleasantness, 
but the discussions sometimes took a serious character. 
The Colonel and Strux continually interfered in behalf of 
* their countrymen, whether they were right or wrong, but 
they only succeeded in making matters worse. After a 
while Zorn and Emery were the only members of the party 
who had preserved a perfect concord. Even Sir John 
Murray and Nicholas Palander (generally absorbed as they 
were, the one in his calculations, the other in his hunting), 
began to join the fray. 

One day the dispute went so far that Strux said to the 
Colonel, “You must please to moderate your tone with 
astrononiers from Poulkowa: remember it was their tele- 
scope that showed that the disc of Uranus is circular,” 

“Yes,” replied the Colonel; “but ours at Cambridge 
enabled us to classify the nebula of Andromeda.” _ 

The irritation was evident, and at times seemed to imperil 
the fate of the triangulation, Hitherto the discussions had 
had no injurious effect, but perhaps rather served to keep 
every operation more scrupulously exact, 

On the goth the weather suddenly changed. In any 
other region a storm and torrents of rain might have been 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. gi 





expected: angry-looking clouds covered the sky, and 


lightning, unaccompanied by thunder, gleanied through the 
mass of vapour. But condensation did not ensue—not a 
drop of rain fell on to the thirsty soil. The sky remained 
overcast for some days, and the fog rendered the points of 
sight invisible at the distance of a mile. The astronomers, 
however, would not lose time, and determined to set up 


lighted signals and work at night. The bushman prudently. 


advised caution, lest the electric lights should attract the 
wild beasts too closely to their quarters ; and in fact, during 
the night, the yelp of the jackal and the hoarse laugh of 


the hyena, like that of a drunken negro, could plainly be | 


heard, } 
In the midst of this clamour, in which the roar of a lion 
could sometimes be distinguished, the astronomers felt rather 


distracted, and the measurements were taken at least less : 


rapidly, if not less accurately. To take zenith distances while 
gleaming eyes might be gazing at them through the darkness, 
required imperturbable composure and the utmost sang- 
froid. But these qualities were not wanting in the members 


° 


of the Commission, and after a few days they regained their - 


presence of mind, and worked away in the midst of the 
beasts as calmly as if they were in their own observatories, 
Armed hunters attended them at every station, and no 
inconsiderable number of hyenas fell by their-balls. Sir 
John thought this way of surveying delightful, and whilst 


92 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


his eye was at his telescope his hand was on his gun, and 
more than once he made a shot in the interval between two 
observations. 

Nothing occurred to check the steady progress of the 
* survey, so that the astronomers hoped before the end of 
June to measure a second degree of the meridian. On the 
17th they found that their path was crossed by an affluent 
of the Kuruman. The Europeans could easily take their 
instruments across in their india-rubber canoe ; but Mokoum 
would have to take the caravan to a ford which he remem- 
bered some miles below. The river was about half-a-mile 
wide, and its rapid current, broken here and there by rocks 
and stems of trees embedded in the mud, offered consider- 
able danger to any light craft. Matthew Strux did not fail 
to represent this, but finding that his companions did not 
recoil from the attempt he gave way. 

Nicholas Palander alone was to accompany the caravan 
in its déour, He was too much absorbed in his calculations 
to give any thought to danger; but his presence was not 
indispensable to his companions, and the boat would only . 
hold a limited number of passengers. Accordingly, he 
gave up his place to an Englishman of the crew of the 
“Queen and Czar,’ who would be more useful under the 
circumstances. | 

-After making an arrangement to meet to the north of the 


rapid, the caravan disappeared down the left bank of the 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 93 


stream, leaving Colonel Everest, Strux, Emery, Zorn, Sir 
John, two sailors, and a Bochjesman, who was the pioneer 
of the caravan, and had been recommended by Mokoum as 
-having much experience in African rapids. 

“A pretty river,” observed Zorn to his friend, as the 
sailors were preparing the boat. 

“Very so, but hard to cross,” answered Emery. “These 
rapids have not long to live, and therefore enjoy life. With 
a few weeks of this dry season there will hardly remain 
enough of this swollen torrent to water a caravan. It is 

“soon exhausted; such is the law of nature, moral and 
physical. But we must not waste timein moralizing. See, 
the boat is equipped, and I am all anxiety to see her per- 
formances.” — 

In a few minutes the boat was launched beside a sloping — 
bank of red granite. Here, sheltered by a projecting rock, 
the water quietly bathed the reeds and creepers. The 
instruments and provisions were put in the boat, and’ the 
passengers seated themselves so as not to interfere with the | 
action of the oars. The Bochjesman took the helm; he 
spoke but a few words of English, and advised the travellers 
to keep a profound silence while they were crossing. The 
boat soon felt the influence of the current. The sailors 
carefully obeyed every order of the Bochjesman. Some- 
times they had to raise their oars to avoid some half- 


emerged stump; sometimes to row hard across a whirlpool, 


94 - MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 

_ When the current became too strong they could only guide 
the light boat as it drifted with the stream. The native, 
tiller in hand, sat watchful and motionless, prepared for 
every danger. The Europeans were half uneasy at their 
novel situation ; they seemed carried away by an irresistible 
force. The Colonel and Strux gazed at each other without 
a word; Sir John, with his rifle between his knees, watched 
the numerous birds that skimmed the water; and the two - 
younger astronomers gazed with admiration at the banks, 
past which they flew with dizzy speed. The light boat soon 
reached the true rapid, which it was necessary to cross 
obliquely. At a word from the Bochjesman, the sailors 
put forth their strength; but, despite all their efforts, they 
were carried down parallel to the banks. The tiller and 
oars had no longer any effect, and the situation became 
really perilous ; a rock or stump of a tree would inevitably 
have overturned the -boat. In spite of the manifest peril, 
no one uttered a word. The Bochjesman half rose, and 
watched the direction which he could not control. Two 
hundred yards distant rose an islet of stones and trees, 
which it was impossible to avoid. In a few seconds the 
boat apparently must be lost; but the shock came with less 
violence than had seemed inevitable. The boat lurched 
and shipped a little water, but the passengers kept their 
places. They were astonished to observe that what they 
had presumed to be rock had moved, and was plunging 


pe ee 
mbt eet 


2 
KomeGrit 













































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































hold, but shook the Boat as a Dog would 
Page 95.] 


a Hare.—[ 


quit his 


The Hippopotamus did not 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 95 
about in the rush of the waters. It was an immense hippo- 
potamus, ten feet long, which had been carried by the 
current against the islet, and dared not venture out again 
into the rapid. Feeling the shock, he raised and shook his 
‘head, looking about him with his little dull eyes, and with 
his mouth wide open, showing his great canine teeth. He 
rushed furiously on the boat, which he threatened to bite to 
pieces. | ) 

But Sir John Murray’s presence of mind did not forsake 
him. Quietly shouldering his rifle, he fired at the animal 
near the ear. The hippopotamus did not quit his hold, but 
shook the boat as a dog would a.hare. A second shot was 
soon lodged in his head. The blow was mortal. After 
pushing the boat with a last effort off the islet, the fleshy 
mass sank in the deep water. Before the dismayed voyagers 
could collect their thoughts, they were whirled obliquely 
into the rapid. A hundred yards below, a sharp bend in the 
river broke the current; thither was the boat carried, and 
was arrested by a violent shock. Safe and sound the whole 
party leapt to the bank. They were about two miles below 
the spot where they had embarked. | 


96 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


Rn A A EE PETG, 


CHAPTER XL 
A MISSING COMPANION. 


IN continuing the survey the astronomers had to be on 
their guard against the serpents that infested the region, 
venomous mambas, ten to twelve feet long, whose bite would 
have been fatal. | 

Four days after the passage of the rapid, the observers 
found themselves in a wooded country. The trees, how- 
ever, were not so high as to interfere with their labours, and 
at all points rose eminences which afforded excellent sites 
for the posts and electric lamps. The district, lying consi- 
derably lower than the rest of the plain, was moist and fer- 
tile. Emery noticed thousands of Hottentot fig-trees, whose 
sour fruit is much relished by the Bochjesmen. From the 
ground arose a soft odour from the “kucumakranti,” a 
.. yellow fruit two or three inches long, growing from bulbous 
roots like the colchicum, and eagerly devoured by the 
native children. Here, too, in this more watered country, 
reappeared the fields of colocynths and borders of the mint 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 97 


so successfully naturalized in England. Notwithstanding 
its fertility, the country appeared little frequented by the 
wandering tribes, and not a kraal or a camp-fire was to be 
seen ; yet water was abundant, forming some considerable 
streams and lagoons. : : 

The astronomers halted to await the caravan. The time 
fixed by Mokoum had just expired, and if he had reckoned 
well, he would join them to-day. The day, however, passed 
on, and no Bochjesman appeared. Sir John conjectured 
that the hunter had probably been obliged to ford farther 
south than he had expected, since the river was unusually 
swollen. Another day passed and the caravan had not 
appeared. The Colonel became uneasy; he could not 
go on, and the delay might affect the success of the 
. operations, Matthew Strux said that it had always been his 
wish to accompany the caravan, and that if his advice | 
had been followed they would not have found themselves 
‘in this predicament; but he would not admit that the 
responsibility rested on the Russians. Colonel Everest 
began to protest against these insinuations, but Sir John 
interposed, saying that what was done could not be undone, 
and that all the recriminations in the world would make no 
difference. « 

It was then decided that if the caravan did not appear on 
the following day, Emery and Zorn, under the guidance of 
the Bochjesman, should start to ascertain the reason of the 

H 


, 


98 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





delay. For the rest of the day the rivals kept apart, and 
Sir John passed his time in beating the surrounding woods. 
He failed in finding any game, but from a naturalist’s point of 
view he ought to have been satisfied, since he brought down 
* two fine specimens of African’ birds. One was a kind of 
partridge, a francolin, thirteen inches long, with short legs, 
dark grey back, red beak and claws, and elegant wings, 
shaded with brown. The other bird, witha red throat and 
white tail, was aspecies of falcon. The Bochjesman pioneer 
cleverly took off the skins, in order that they should be 
preserved entire. 

The next day was half over, and the two young men 
were just about to start on their search, when a distant bark 
arrested them. Soon Mokoum, on his zebra, emerged at 
full speed from the thicket of aloes on the left, and advanced 
towards the camp. 

“Welcome,” cried Sir John joyfully, “we had almost 
given you up, and apart from you I should be inconsolable. — 
I am only successful when you are with me. We will 
celebrate your return in a glass of usquebaugh.” 

Mokoum made no answer, but anxiously scanned and 
counted the Europeans. Colonel Everest perceived his 
perplexity, and as he was dismounting, said,— 

“For whom are you looking, Mokoum ?” 

“For Mr, Palander,” replied the bushman, 

“Is he not with you?” said the Colonel. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 99 


“ Not now,” answered Mokoum. “I thought I should 
find him with you. He is lost!” 

At these words, Matthew Strux stepped forward. 

“Lost!” he cried. “He was confided to your care. 
You are responsible for his safety, and it is not enough to 
say he is lost.” . 

Mokoum’s face flushed, and he answered impatiently,— 

“Why should you expect me to take care of one who 
can’t take care of himself? Why blame me? If Mr. 
Palander is lost, it is by his own folly. Twenty times I 
have found him absorbed in his figures, and have brought 
him back to the caravan. But the evening before last he 
disappeared, and I have not seen him since. Perhaps if 
you are so clever, you can spy him out with your telescope.” 

The bushman would doubtless have become more irri- 
table still, if Sir John had not pacified him. Matthew. 
Strux had not been able to get in a word, but now turned 
round unexpectedly to the Colonel, saying,— 

“T shall not abandon my countryman. I suppose that 
if Sir John Murray or Mr. Emery were lost, you would 
suspend operations ; and I don’t see why you should do 
less for a Russian than for an Englishman.” 

“Mr. Strux,” cried the Colonel, folding his arms, and 
fixing his eyes on his adversary, “do you wish to insult 
me? Why should you suppose that we will not seek this 
blundering calculator ?” 

He 2 


100 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


“Sir!” said Strux. | 

“Yes, blundering,” repeated the Colonel. “ And to return 
to what you said, I maintain that any embarrassment to: 
the progress of the operations from this circumstance would 
be due to the Russians alone.” 

«0 Colonel,” cried Strux, with gleaming eyes, “ your words 
are hasty.” 

“My words, on the contrary, are well weighed. Let it 
be understood that operations are suspended until Mr. - 
Palander is found. Are you ready to start ?” 

“T was ready before you spoke a word,” answered Strux 
sharply. 

The caravan having now arrived, the disputants each 
went to his waggon. On the way Sir John could not help 
saying,— 

“Tt is lucky that the stupid fellow has not carried off the 
double register.” 

“Just what I was thinking,” said the Colonel. 

The Englishmen proceeded more strictly to interrogate 
Mokoum. He told them that Palander had been missing 
for two days, and had last been seen alongside of the cara- 
van about twelve miles from the encampment; that after 
missing him, he at once set out to seek for him, but being 
unsuccessful in all his search, had concluded that he must 
have made his way to his companions. 


Mokoum proposed that they should now explore the 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. ¥OUG 


woods to the north-east, adding that they must not lose an 
hour if they wanted to find him alive, knowing that no one 
could wander with impunity for two days in a country. 
infested like that with wild beasts. Where any one else 
could find a subsistence, Palander, ever engrossed by his 
figures, would inevitably die of starvation. At one o'clock, 
guided by the hunter, they mounted and left the camp. - 
The grotesque attitudes of Strux, as he clung uneasily to 
his steed, caused considerable diversion to his companions, 
who, however, were polite enough to pass no remark. 

Before leaving the camp, Mokoum asked the pioneer to 
lend him his keen-scented dog. The sagacious animal, 
after scenting a hat belonging to Palander, darted off in a 
north-easterly direction, whilst his master urged him on by 
a peculiar whistle. The little troop followed, and soon dis- 
appeared in the underwood. 

All the day the Colonel and his companions followed 
the dog, who seemed instinctively to know what was re- 
quired of him. They shouted, they fired their guns, but 
night came on when they had scoured the woods for five 
miles round, and they were at length obliged to rest until 
the following day. They spent the night in a grove, before 
which the bushman had prudently kindled a wood fire. 
Some wild howls were heard, by no means reassuring. 
Hours passed in arguing about Palander, and discussing 
plans for his assistance. The English showed as much 


102 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





devotion as Strux could desire; and it was decided that all 
work should be adjourned till the Russian was found, alive — 
or dead. 

After a weary night the day dawned. The horses 
were saddled, and the little troop again followed the dog. 
Towards the north-east they arrived at a district almost’ 
swampy in itscharacter. The small water-courses increased 
in number, but they were easily forded, care being taken to 
_avoid the crocodiles, of which Sir John, for the first time in 
his life, now saw some specimens. The bushman would 
not permit that time should be wasted in any attack upon 
the reptiles, and restrained Sir John, who was always on the 
gut-vive to discharge a ball. Whenever a crocodile, snap- 
ping its prey with its formidable jaw, put its head out of 
water, the horses set off at a gallop to escape. 

The troop of riders went on over woods, plains, and 
marshes, noting the most insignificant tokens : here a broken 
bough; there a freshly-trodden tuft of grass; or farther 
~on some inexplicable mark; but no trace of Palander. 

When they had advanced ten miles north of the last en- 
campment, and were about to turn south-east, the dog 
suddenly gave signs of agitation. He barked, and in an 
excited way wagged his tail. Sniffing the dry grass, he ran 
on-a few steps, and returned to the same spot. , 

“The dog scents something,” exclaimed the bushman. 

“Tt seems,” said Sir John, “he is on a right track, 


a 


a 



































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































‘« There he is,’ cried Mokoum.—[Page 103. ] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS, 103 





Listen to his yelping: he seems to be talking to him- 
self. He will be an invaluable creature if he scents out 
Palander.” 

Strux did not quite relish the way in which his country- 
- man was treated as a head of game; but the important 
thing now was to find him, and they all waited to follow 
the dog, as soon as he should be sure of the scent. 

Very soon the animal, with a loud yelp, bounded over 
the thicket and disappeared. The horses could not follow 
through the dense forest, but were obliged to take a cir- 
cuitous path. The dog was certainly on the right track 
now, the only question was whether Palander was alive or 
dead. | 

In a few minutes the yelping ceased, and the bushman 
and Sir John, who were in advance, were becoming uneasy, _ 
when suddenly the barking began again outside the forest, 
about half a mile away. The horses were spurred in that 
direction, and soon reached the confines of the marsh. The 
dog could distinctly be heard, but, on account of the lofty 
reeds, could not be seen. The riders dismounted, and tied 
their horses to a tree. With difficulty they made their way 
through the reeds, and reached a large space covered with 
water and aquatic plants. In the lowest part lay the 
brown waters of a lagoon half a mile square. The dog 
stopped at the muddy edge, and barked furiously. 


“There he is!” cried Mokoum. 


104 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





And sure enough, on a stump at the extremity of a sort 
of peninsula, sat Nicholas Palander, pencil in hand, and a 
note-book on his knees, wrapt in calculations, His friends 
could not suppress acry. About twenty paces off a num- 
ber of crocodiles, quite unknown to him, lay watching, and 
evidently designing an attack. : 

“Make hasté,” said Mokoum, ina low voice; “I don’t 
understand why these animals don’t rush on him.” 

“They are waiting till he is gamey,” said Sir John, 
alluding to the idea common among the natives that these 
reptiles never touch fresh meat. 

The bushman and Sir John, telling their companions to 
wait for them, passed round the lagoon, and reached the 
' narrow isthmus by which.alone they could get near Palander, 
_They had not gone two hundred steps, when the crocodiles, 
leaving the water, made straight towards their prey. Palan- 
der saw nothing, but went on writing. 

“Be quick and calm,” whispered Mokoum, “or all is 
lost.” | 

Both, kneeling down, aimed at the nearest reptiles, and 
fired. Two monsters rolled into the water with broken 
backs, and the rest simultaneously disappeared beneath the 
surface. . 

At the sound of the guns Palander raised his head. He 


recognized his companions, and ran towards them waving 














































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































.—[Page 104.] 


10n 


Compani 


° 


issing 


Am 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 105 


his note-book, and like the philosopher of old exclaiming 
“Eureka!” he cried, “I have found it!” 

“What have you found?” asked Sir John. : 

“ An error in the last decimal of a logarithm of James 
Wolston’s.” 

It was a fact. ~The worthy man had discovered the error, 
and had secured a right to the prize offered by Wolston’s 
editor. For four days had the astronomer wandered in 
solitude. Truly Ampére, with his unrivalled gift of ab- 
straction, could not have done better! 


f 
106 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


CHAPTER XII. 
A STATION TO SIR JOHN’S LIKING. 


So the Russian mathematician was found! When they 
asked him how he had passed those four days, he could not 
tell; he thought the whole story of the crocodiles was a 
joke, and did not believe it. He had not been hungry; he 
had lived upon figures. Matthew Strux would not reproach 
his countryman before his colleagues, but there was every 
reason to believe that in private he gave him a severe. 
reprimand. 

The geodetic operations were now resumed, and went on 
as usual till the 28th of June, when they had measured the 
base of the 15th triangle, which would conclude the second 
and commence the third degree of the meridian. Herea 
physical difficulty arose. The country was 50 thickly 
covered with underwood, that although the artificial signals 
could be erected, they could not be discerned at any dis-. 
tance. One station was recognized as available for an 


electric lamp. This was a mountain 1200 feet high, about 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 107 


thirty miles to the north-west. The choice of this would 
make the sides of this triangle considerably longer than any 
of the former, but it was at length determined to adopt it. 
Colonel Everest, Emery, Zorn, three sailors, and two Boch- 
jesmen, were appointed to establish the lighted signal, the 
distance being too great to work otherwise than at night. 

The little troop, accompanied by mules laden with the 
instruments and provisions, set off in the morning. The 
Colonel did not expect to reach the base of the mountain 
till the following day, and however few might be the diffi- 
culties of the ascent, the observers in the camp would not 
see the lighted signal till the night of the 2gth or 3oth. 

In the interval of waiting, Strux and Palander went to 
their usual occupations, while Sir John and the bushman 
shot antelopes. They found opportunity of hunting a 
giraffe, which is considered fine sport. Corning across a 
herd of twenty, but so wild that they could not approach 
within 500 yards, they succeeded in detaching a female 
. from the herd. The animal set off at first at a slow trot, 
allowing the horsemen to gain upon her; but when she 
found them near, she twisted her tail, and started at full 
speed. The hunters followed for about two miles, when a 
ball from Sir John’s rifle threw her on to her side, and made 
her an easy victim. 

_ In the course of the next night the two Russians took 
some altitudes of the stars, which enabled them to deter- 


108 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


mine the latitude of the encampment. The following night 
was clear and dry, without moon and stars, and the 
observers impatiently watched for the appearance of the 
electric light. Strux, Palander, and Sir John relieved 
guard at the telescope, but no light appeared. They con- 
cluded that the ascent of the mountain had offered serious 
difficulty, and again postponed their observations till the 
next night. Great, however, was their surprise, when, 
about two o’clock in the afternoon, Colonel Everest and 
his companions suddenly reappeared in camp. 

In answer to inquiries whether he had found the moun- 
tain inaccessible, Colonel Everest replied that although in 
itself the mountain was entirely accessible, it was so guarded 
that they had found it necessary to come back for rein- 
forcements. | 

“Do you mean,” said Sir John, “that the natives were 
assembled in force?” — 

“Yes, natives with four paws and black manes, who have 
eaten up one of our horses.” 

The Colonel went on to say that the mountain was only 
to be approached bya spur on the south-west side. In the 
narrow defile leading to the spur a troop of lions had taken 
up their abode. These he had endeavoured to dislodge, 
but, insufficiently armed, he was compelled to beat a retreat, 
after losing one of his horses by a single blow of a lion’s paw. 

The recital kindled the interest of Sir John and the bush- 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 109 ; 


man. Clearly it was a station worth conquering, and an 
expedition wasat once arranged. All the Europeans, with- 
out exception, were eager to join, but it was necessary that 
some should remain at the camp to measure the angles at 
the base of the triangle, therefore the Colonel resolved to 
stay behind with Strux and Palander, while Sir John, 
Emery, and Zorn (to whose entreaties their chiefs had been 
obliged to yield), Mokoum, and three natives on whose 
courage he could rely, made up the party for the attack. 

They started at four in the afternoon, and by nine were 
within two miles of the mountain. Here they dismounted, 
and made their arrangements for the night. No fire was 
kindled, Mokoum being unwilling to provoke a nocturnal 
attack from the animals, which he wished to meet by day 
light. 

Throughout the night the roar of the lions could almost 
incessantly be heard. Not one of the hunters slept for so 
much as an hour, and Mokoum took advantage of. their 
wakefulness to give them some advice from his own expe- 
rience. 

“From what Colonel Everest tells us,” he said calmly, 
“these are black-maned lions, the fiercest and most danger- 
ous species of any. They leap for a distance of sixteen to 
twenty paces, and I should advise you to avoid their first 
bound. Should the first fail, they rarely take a second. 
We will attack them as they re-enter their den at day- 


£10 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





break; they are always less fierce when they are well 
filled. But they will defend themselves well, for here, 
in this uninhabited district, they are unusually ferocious. 
Measure your distance well before you fire; let the animal 
approach, and take a sure aim near the shoulder. We 
must leave our horses behind; the sight of a lion terrifies 
them, and therefore the safety of their rider is imperilled, 
We must fight on foot, and I rely on your calmness.” , 

All listened with silent attention: Mokoum was now the 
patient hunter. Although the lion seldom attacks a man 
without provocation, yet his fury, when once aroused, is 
terrible; and therefore the bushman erfjoined composure 
on his companions, especially on, Sir John, who was often 
carried away by his boldness. 

“Shoot at a lion,’ said Mokoum, “as calmly as if you 
were shooting a partridge.” 

At four o'clock, only a few red streaks being visible in 
the far east, the hunters tied up their horses securely and 
left their halting-place. 

“Examine your guns, and be careful that your car- 
tridges are in good trim,” continued Mokoum, to those who 
_carried rifles; for the three natives were armed otherwise, 
satisfied with their bows of aloe, which already had 
rendered them good service. 

The party, in a compact group, turned towards the defile, 
which had been partially reconnoitred the evening before. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. Ill 
They crept, like Red Indians, silently between the trecs, 
and soon reached the narrow gorge which formed the 
entrance. Here, winding between piles of granite, began 
the path leading to the first slopes of the spur. Midway 
the path had been widened by a landslip, and here was the 
cave tenanted by the lions. 

It was then arranged that Sir John, one of the natives, 
and Mokoum, should creep along the upper edge of the 
defile, with the intention of driving out the animals to the 
lower extremity of the gorge. There the two young 
Europeans and the other two Bochjesmen should be in 
ambush to receive the fugitive beasts with shot and 
arrows, : 

‘No spot could be better adapted for the manceuvres. 
The forked branches of a gigantic sycamore afforded a safe 
position, since lions do not climb; and the hunters, perched 
at a considerable height, could escape their bounds and 
aim at them under favourable conditions, 

William Emery objected to the plan as being dangerous 
for Sir John and the bushman, but the latter would hear 
of no modification, and Emery reluctantly acquiesced. 

Day now began to dawn, and the mountain-top was 
glowing in the sun. Mokoum, after seeing his four com- 
panions installed in the sycamore, started off with Sir 
John and the Bochjesman, and soon mounted the devious 


path which lay on the right edge of the defile. Cautiously 


112 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


examining their path, they continued to advance. In the 
event of the lions having returned to their den and being 
at repose, it would be possible to make short work of 
them. 

After about a quarter of an hour the hunters, reaching 
the landslip before the cave to which Zorn had directed 
them, crouched down and examined the spot. It seemed. 
a wide excavation, though at present they could hardly 
estimate the size. The entrance was marked by piles of 
bones and remains of animals, demonstrating, beyond 
doubt, that it was the lions’ retreat. 

Contrary to the hunter’s expectation, the cave seemed 
deserted. He crept to the entrance and satisfied himself 
that it was really empty. Calling his companions, who 
joined him immediately, he said,— 

“ Our game has not returned, Sir John, but it will not be 
long: I think we had better install ourselves in its place. 
Better to be besieged than besiegers, especially as we have 
an armed succour at hand. What do you think ?” 

“Tam at your orders, Mokoum,” replied Sir John. 

All three accordingly entered. It was a deep grotto, 
strewn with bones and stained with blood. Repeating their 
scrutiny, lest they should be mistaken as to the cave being 
empty, they hastened to barricade the entrance by piling 
up stones, the intervening spaces being filled with 
boughs and dry brushwood. This only occupied a few 


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It was a deep Grotto, strewn with Bones and stained with Blood,—[Page 112.] 

















































































































































































































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The Entrance to the Lion’s Den.—[Page 112. ] 


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THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 113 


minutes, the mouth of the cave being comparatively nar- 
row. They then went behind their loop-holes, and awaited 
their prey, which was not long in coming. A lion and two 
lionesses approached within a hundred yards of the cave. 
The lion, tossing his mane and sweeping the ground with 
his tail, carried in his teeth an entire antelope, which he 
shook with as much ease as a cat would a mouse. The two 
lionesses frisked along at his side. 

Sir John afterwards confessed that it was a moment of 
no little trepidation ; he felt his pulses beat fast, and was 
conscious of something like fear; but he was soon himself 
again. His two companions retained their composure 
undisturbed. 

At the sight of the barricade, the beasts paused. They 
were within sixty paces. With a harsh roar from the lion, 
they all three rushed into a thicket on the right, a little 
below the spot where the hunters had first stopped. Their 
tawny backs and gleaming eyes were distinctly visible 
through the foliage. 

“ The partridges are there,” whispered Sir John ; “let us 
each take one.” 

“No,” answered Mokoum softly, “the brood is not all 
here, and the report of a gun would frighten the rest. 
Bochjesman, are you sure of your arrow at this dis- 
tance?” 


“Yes, Mokoum,” said the native. 


ti4 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 

“Then aim at the male’s left flank, and pierce his heart.” 

The Bochjesman bent his bow, and the arrow whistled 
through the brushwood. . With a loud roar, the lion made 
a bound and fell. He lay motionless, and his sharp teeth 
stood out in strong relief against his blood-stained lips. 

“ Well done, Bochjesman!” said Mokoum. 

At this moment the lionesses, leaving the thicket, flung 
themselves on the lion’s body. Attracted by their roar, 
two other lions and a third lioness appeared round the 
corner of the defile. Bristling with anger, they looked 
twice their ordinary size, and bounded forward with terrific 
roars, | 

“Now for the rifles,’ cried the bushman, “ we must 
shoot them on the wing, since they will not perch.” 

The bushman took deliberate aim, and one lion fell, as it 
were paralyzed. The other, his paw broken by Sir John’s 
bullet, rushed towards the barricade, followed by the infu- 
riated lionesses. Unless the rifles could now be brought 
successfully to bear, the three animals would succeed in 
entering their den. The hunters retired; their guns were 
quickly reloaded ; two or three lucky shots, and all would 
be well; but an unforeseen circumstance occurred which 
rendered the hunters’ situation to the last degree,alarming. 

All at once a dense smoke filled the cave. One of the 
wads, falling on the dry brushwocd, had set it alight, and 


soon a sheet of flames, fanned by the wind, lay between the 


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A Ball from the Bushman arrested the Lioness.— [Page 115. | 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 115 





men and the beasts. The lions recoiled, but the hunters 
would be suffocated if they remained where they were. It 
was a terrible moment, but they dared not hesitate. 

“Come out! come out!” cried Mokoum. 

They pushed aside the brushwood with the butt ends of 
their guns, knocked down the stones, and, half choked, 
leaped out of the cloud of smoke. 

The native and Sir John had hardly time to collect their 
~ senses when they were both knocked over. The African, 
struck on the chest by one of the lionesses, lay motionless 
on the ground ; Sir John, who received a blow from the tail 
of the other, thought his leg was broken, and fell on his 
knees. But just as the animal turned upon him, a ball 
from the bushman arrested her, and, meeting a bone, 
exploded in her body. At this instant Zorn, Emery, and 
the two Bochjesmen appeared opportunely, although un- 
summoned, hastening up the defile. Two lions and one 
lioness were dead; but two lionesses and the lion with the 
broken paw were still sufficiently formidable. The rifles, 
however, performed their duty. A second lioness fell, 
struck in both head and flank. The third lioness and the 
wounded lion bounded -over the young men’s heads, and 
amid a last salute of balls and arrows disappeared round 
the corner of the defile. 

Sir John uttered a loud hurrah. The lions were con- 
quered, four carcasses measured the ground. 

Lee, 


116 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


With his friend’s assistance, Sir John was soon on his 
feet again ; his leg was not broken. The native soon reco- 
vered his consciousness, being merely stunned by the blow 
from the animal’s head. An hour later, the little troop, 
without further trace of the fugitive couple, regained the 
thicket where they had left their horses. 

“Well,” said Mokoum to Sir John, “I hope you like our 
African partridges.” 

“Delightful! delightful!” said Sir John, rubbing his 


leg, “but what tails they have, to be sure!” 










































































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<* Well,” said Mokoum, ‘* I hope you like our African Partridges.’’—[Page 116.] 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 117 





CHARTERAXUIT: 
PACIFICATION BY FIRE. 


AT the camp Colonel Everest and his colleagues, with a 
natural impatience, anxiously abided the result of the lion- 
hunt. If the chase proved successful, the light would 
appear in the course of the night. The Colonel and Strux 
passed the day uneasily; Palander, always engrossed, 
forgot that any danger menaced his friends. It might be 
said of him, as of the mathematician Bouvard, “ He will 
continue to calculate while he continues to live;’ for 
apart from his calculations life for him would have lost its 
purpose. 

The two chiefs certainly thought quite as much of the 
accomplishment of their survey as of any danger incurred 
by their companions ; they would themselves have braved 
any peril rather than have a physical obstacle to arrest 
their operations. 

At length, after a day that seemed interminable, the 
night arrived. Punctually every half-hour the Colonel and 


118 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





Matthew Strux silently relieved guard at the telescope, 
each desiring to be the first to discover the light. But 
hours passed on, and no light appeared. At last, ata 
quarter to three, Colonel Everest arose, and calmly said, 
“ The signal !” : 

The Russian, although he did not utter a word, could 
scarcely ccnceal the chagrin which he felt at chance favour- 
ing the Colonel. | 

The angle was then carefully measured, and was found 
to be exactly 73° 58’ 42”.413. 

Colonel Everest being anxious to join his companions as 
soon as possible, the camp was raised at dawn, and by mid- 
day all the members of the Commission had met once more. 
The incidents of the lion-hunt were recounted, and the 
victors heartily congratulated. 

During the morning Sir John, Emery, and Zorn had 
proceeded to the summit of the mountain, and had thence 
measured the angular distance of a new station situated a 
few miles to the west of the meridian. Palander also an- 
nounced that the measurement of the second degree was 
now complete. 

For five weeks all went on well. The weather was fine, 
and the country, being only slightly undulated, offered fair 
sites for the stations. Provisions were abundantvand. Sir: 
John’s revictualling expeditions provided full many a va- 
riety of antelopes and buffaloes. The general health was — 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 119 


good, and water could always be found. Even the discus- 
sions between the Colonel and Strux were less violent, and 
each seemed to vie with the other in zeal for success, when 
a local difficulty occurred which for a while hindered the 
work and revived hostilities. 

It was the 11th of August. During the night the 
caravan had passed through a wooded country, and in the 
_ morning halted before an immense forest extending beyond 
the horizon. Imposing masses of foliage formed a verdant 
curtain which was of indescribable beauty. There were the 
“gounda,” the “mosokoso,” and the “mokoumdon,” a 
wood much sought for ship-building; great ebony trees, 
their bark covering a perfectly black wood ; “ bauhinias,” 
with fibre of iron ; “ buchneras,” with their orange-coloured 
flowers; magnificent “roodeblatts,” with whitish trunks, 
crowned with crimson foliage, and thousands of “guaia- 
cums,” measuring fifteen feet in circumference. There 
was ever a-‘murmur like that of the surf on a sandy coast ; 
it was the wind, which, passing across the branches, was 
calmed on the skirts of the forest. In answer to a question 
from the Colonel, Mokoum said,— 

“ It is the forest of Rovouma.” 

“What is its*size?” 

“Tt is about forty-five miles wide, and ten long.” 

“ Tlow shall we cross it ?” 


“Cross it we cannot,’ said Mokoum. “There is but 


120 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


one resource: we must go round either to the east or to 
the west.” 

At this intelligence the chiefs were much perplexed. In 
the forest they could not establish stations; to pass round 

would involve them in an additional ,series of perhaps ten 
7 auxiliary triangles. 

Here was a difficulty of no little magnitude. Encamping 
in the shade of a magnificent grove about half a mile from 
the forest, the astronomers assembled in council. The 
question of surveying across the mass of trees was at once 
set aside, and it now remained to determine whether they 
should make the circuit to the east or the west, since the 
meridian passed as nearly as possible through the centre of 
the forest. On this point arose a violent discussion be- 
tween the Colonel and Strux. The two rivals recovered 
their old animosity, and the discussion ended in a serious 
altercation. Their colleagues attempted to interfere, but to 
no purpose. The Englishman wished to turn to the right, 
since that direction approached the route taken by. Dr. 
Livingstone in his expedition to the Zambesi Falls, and 
the country would on that account be more known and 
frequented. The Russian, on the contrary, insisted on 
going to the left, but apparently for no other reason than 
to thwart the Colonel. The quarrel went so far that a 
separation between the members of the Commission seemed 
imminent. Zorn, Emery, Sir John, and Palander with- 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 121 





drew and left their chiefs to themselves. Such was their 
obstinacy that it seemed as if the survey must continue 
from this point in two oblique series of triangles. 

The day passed away without any reconciliation, and the 
next morning Sir John, finding matters still in the same 
condition, proposed to Mokoum to beat the neighbourhood. 
Perhaps meanwhile the astronomers would come to an 
understanding : any way, some fresh venison would not be 
despised. 

Mokoum, always ready, whistled to his dog Top, and the 
two hunters ventured several miles from the encampment. 
The conversation naturally turned on the subject of the 
difficulty. 

“T expect,” said the bushman, “we shall be encamped 
some time here. Our two chiefs are like ill-paired oxen, 
one pulls one way and the other another, and the conse- 
quence is that the waggon makes no headway.” - 

“Tt is all very sad,” answered Sir John, “and looks like 
a separation. The interests of science are compromised, 
otherwise I should be indifferent to it all. I should amuse 
myself with my gun until the rivals made it up.” 

“Do you think they wi// make it up? For my part, I 
am almost afraid that our halt will be indefinitely pro- 
longed.” Sears 

‘“‘T fear so, Mokoum,” replied Sir John. “The matter is 
so trivial, and it is no question of science. Our chiefs would 


122 MERIDIANA;, THE ADVENTURES OF 


doubtless have yielded to a scientific argument, but they 
will never make concession in a pure matter of opinion. 
How unfortunate that the meridian happens to cross this 
forest !” 

“ Hang the forests!” exclaimed the bushman, “ don’t let 
them stop your measuring, if you want to measure. But I 
can’t see the good of your getting at the length and breadth 
of the earth ? Who will be any better off when every thing 
is reduced to feet and inches? I should just like to think 
of the globe as infinite; to measure it is to make it small. 
No, Sir John, if I were to live for ever, I could never under- 
stand the use of your operations.” 

Sir John could not help smiling. They had often debated 
the subject, and the ignorant child of nature could evidently 
not enter into the interest attached to the survey. When- 
ever Sir John attempted to convince him, he answered 
eloquently with arguments stamped with a genuine natural- 


ness, of which Sir John, half-savan¢ and half-hunter, could 
fully appreciate the charm. 


Thus conversing, the hunters pursued the rock-hares, the 
shrill-toned plovers, the partridges (with brown, yellow, and 
black plumage), and other small game. But Sir John had 
all the sport to himself. The bushman seldom fired; he 
was pre-occupied. The quarrel between the two astro- 
nomers seemed to trouble him more than it did his com- 
panion, and the variety of game hardly attracted his notice. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 123 


In truth there was an idea floating through his brain, 
which, little by little, took more definite form. Sir John 
heard him talking to himself, and watched him as he quietly 
let the game pass by, as engrossed as Palander himself. 
Two or three times in the course of the day he drew near 
Sir John and said,— ey 

“So you really think that Colonel Everest and Mr. 
Strux will not come to terms ?” 

Sir John invariably replied that agreement seemed un- 
likely, and that he feared there would be a separation 
between Englishmen and Russians. The last time Mokoum 
received this answer he added,— 

“Well, you may be easy; I have found a means 
to satisfy both the chiefs. Before to-morrow, if the 
wind is favourable, they will have nothing to quarrel 
about.” 

“What do you mean to do, Mokoum ?” 

“Never mind, Sir John.” | 

“Very well, I will leave it to you. You deserve to have 
your name preserved in the annals of science.” 

“That would be too great an honour for me, Sir John,” 
answered the bushman, and then continued silently to 
ponder over his project. Sir John made no further inquiries, 
but could not at all guess how the bushman proposed to 
re-unite the two adversaries. 


Towards evening the hunters returned to camp, and 


124 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTORES OF 


found matters even worse than before, The oft-repeated 
intervention of Zorn and Emery had been of no avail, and 
the quarrel had now reached such a height that reconcilia- 
tion seemed impossible. It appeared only too probable 
that the survey would be continued in two separate direc- 
tions. The thought of this was sorrowful to Emery and 
Zorn, who were now so nearly bound by mutual sympathy. 
Sir John guessed their thoughts, and was eager to reassure 
them ; but however much he was secretly disposed to trust 
to the bushman, he abstained from raising any hopes which 
might be fallacious. 

Throughout the evening Mokoum did not leave his_ 
ordinary occupations. He arranged the sentinels, and took 
the usual precautions. Sir John began to think that he 
had forgotten his promise. Before going to rest he tried 
to sound Colonel Everest, whom he found immovably re- 
solved that, unless Strux yielded, the English and Russians 
must part. “There are things,” added the Colonel, in 
a tone of decision, “that cannot be borne, even from a 
colleague.” 

Sir John, very uneasy, retired to his bed, and being 
fatigued with his day’s sport, was soon asleep. Towards 
eleven o'clock he was suddenly aroused by the natives 
running to and fro in the camp. He quickly rose, and 
found every one on their feet. The forest was on fire. In 
the dark night, against the black sky, the curtain of flame 























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Sir John was soon asleep.— [Page 124.] 



































































































































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The Forest on Fire.— [Page 125.] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. T25 


" seemed to rise to the zenith ; and in this incredibly short 
time the fire had extended for several miles. 

Sir John looked at Mokoum, who, standing near, made 

no answer to his glance; but he at once understood. The 
fire was designed to open a road through that forest which 
had stood impervious for ages. The wind, from the south, 
was favourable. The air, rushing as from a ventilator, 
accelerated the conflagration, and furnished an ever fresh 
- supply of oxygen. It animated the flames, and kept the 
kindled branches burning like a myriad brands. The scat- 
tered fragments became new centres for fresh outbreaks of 
flame; the scene of the fire became larger, and the heat 
grew intense. The dead wood piled under the dark foliage 
crackled, and ever and anon louder reports and a brighter 
light told that the resinous trees were burning like torches. 
Then followed explosions like cannonades, as the great . 
trunks of ironwood burst asunder with a reverberation as 
of bombs. The sky reflected the glow, and the clouds 
carried the rosy glare high aloft. Showers of sparks 
emitted from the wreaths of smoke studded the heavens _ 
like red-hot stars. 
_ Then, on every side, were heard the howls, shrieks, and 
bellowings of herds of bewildered hyenas, buffaloes, and 
lions; elephants rushed in every direction, like huge dark 
spectres, and disappeared beyond the horizon. 

The fire continued throughout the following day and 


726 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


night; and when day broke on the 14th a vast space, 
several miles wide, had been opened across the forest. A 
_ passage was now free for the meridian. The daring genius 
of Mokoum had arrested the disaster which threatened the 


survey, © 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 127 





CHAPTER XIV. 
A DECLARATION OF WAR, 


ALL pretext for quarrelling being now removed, the 
Colonel and Strux, somewhat rancorous at heart, recom- 
menced their joint labours. About five miles to the left of 
the gap made by the conflagration, rose an eminence which 
would serve as the vertex of a new triangle. When the 
requisite observations were complete, the caravan set off 
across the burnt forest. 

The road was paved with embers. The soil was still 
burning, and here and there smouldered stumps of trees, 
while a hot steam rose around: In many places lay the 
blackened carcases of animals which had been unable to 
make their escape. Wreaths of smoke gave evidence that 
the fire was not yet extinct, and might still be rekindled 
by the wind. Had the flames burst out again the cara- 
van must inevitably have been destroyed. Towards the 
middle of the day, however, it was safely encamped at the 
foot of the hill. Here was a mass of rock which seemed to 


128 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


have been arranged by the hand of man. It was a kind of 
cromlech—a surprising erection to find in that locality— 
resembling the structures attributed to the Druids, and 
which ever furnish fresh interest to the archeologist. The 
most credible suggestion was that it must be the remains 
of some primitive African altar. 

The two young astronomers and Sir John Murray wished 
to visit the fantastic construction, and, accompanied by the 
bushman, they ascended the slope. They were not above 
twenty paces from the cromlech when a man, hitherto 
concealed behind one of the massy stones at the base, 
appeared fora moment, and, descending the hill, stolequickly 
away into a thicket that had been untouched by the fire. 
The momentary glance was enough for the bushman. “A 
Makololo!” he cried, and rushed after the native. Sir 
John followed, and both in vain searched the wood. The 
native, knowing the short paths, had escaped where the 
most experienced hunter could not have traced him. 
When the incident was related to Colonel Everest he sent 
for Mokoum, and asked him who the man was? what he 
was doing? and why he had followed him ? 

“He is a Makololo, Colonel,” replied Mokoum. “He 
belongs to one of the northern tribes that haunt the 
affluents of the Zambesi. Not only is he an enemy of us 
Bochjesmen, but he is a plunderer of all who venture into 
the country; he was spying us, and we shall be lucky 


THREE* ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS, 129 


if we have not cause to regret that we couldn't get hold ot 
him.” | 

“But what have we to fear from a band of robbers ?” 
asked the Colonel; “are not our numbers sufficient to 
resist them ?” 

“At present, yes,” replied the bushman; “but in the 
north these tribes are more frequent, and it is difficult to 
avoid them. If this Makololo is a spy, as I suspect, he will 
not fail in putting several hundred of these robbers on our 
track, and then, Colonel, I would not give a farthing for all 
your triangles.” 

The Colonel was vexed. He knew that the bushman 
was not the man to exaggerate danger, and that all he said 
ought to be duly weighed. The intentions of the native 
were certainly suspicious; his sudden appearance and 
immediate flight showed that he was caught deliberately 
spying. No doubt he would announce the approach of the 
Commission to the tribes of the north. There was, how- 
ever, no help for it now; the caravan must continue its 
march with extra precautions. 

On the 17th of August the astronomers completed their 
twenty-second triangle, and with it the third degree of the 
meridian. Finding by the map that the village of 
Kolobeng was about 100 miles to the north-east, they 
resolved to turn thither for a few days’ rest. For-nearly 
six months they had had no communication with the 
K 


130 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


civilized world, and at Kolobeng, an important village and 
missionary station, they would probably hear news from 
Europe, besides being able to re-provision the caravan. | 

The remarkable cromlech was at once chosen as the 
landmark whence subsequent operations should com- 
mence, and the Colonel gave the signal for departure. 
With no further incident the caravan reached Kolobeng on 
the 22nd. The village was merely a mass of native huts, 
the uniformity of which was relieved by the depdét of the 
missionaries who had settled there. Formerly called 
Lepelole, it is marked on some maps Litoubarouka. Here 
Dr. Livingstone stayed for some months in 1843, to learn 
the habits of the Bechuanas, or Bakouins, as they are more 
generally termed in this part of the country. 

With all hospitality the missionaries received. the 
Europeans, and put every available resource at their 
disposal. Livingstone’s house was still to be seen, sacked 
and ruined, as when visited by Baldwin; the Boérs had not 
spared it in their incursion of 1852. 

All eagerly asked for news from Europe; but their 
curiosity could not be immediately satisfied, as no courier 
had reached the mission in the last six months; but in 
about a week the principal said they expected journals and 
despatches, since they had already heard of the arrival of a 
carrier on the banks of the Upper Zambesi. A week was 
just the period that the astror .mers desired for their rest, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 131 


and all except Palander, who constantly revised his calcu- 
lations, passed the time in a complete far zienie. The 
stern Matthew Strux held himself aloof from his English 
colleagues, and Emery and Zorn took many walks in the 
neighbourhood. The firmest friendship united these two, 
and they believed that nothing could break the closeness of 
their sympathy. 

On the 30th the eagerly-expected messenger arrived. He 
was a native of Kilmaine, a town by the delta of the 
Zambesi. A merchantman from the Mauritius, trading in 
gum and ivory, had landed on that coast early in July, and 
delivered the despatches for the missionaries. The papers 
were dated two months back, for the native had taken 
four weeks to ascend the Zambesi. 

On the arrival of the messenger, the principal of the | 
mission had handed to Colonel Everest a bundle of 
European newspapers, chiefly the Z7mes, the Daily News, 
and the Yournal des Débats. The intelligence they con- 
tained had, under the circumstances, a special importance, 
and produced an unexpected emotion among the entire 
party. ‘ 

The members of the Commission were altogether in the 

chief room of the mission. Colonel Everest drew out the 

Daily News for the 13th of May, with the intention of 

reading aloud to his colleagues. Scarcely had he glanced 

at the first leading article, when his brow contracted, and 
Ked 


132 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


the paper trembled in his hand. In a few moments he 
recovered his usual composure. 

“What does the paper say, Colonel?” asked Sir John. 

“Tt is grave news, gentlemen,” said the Colonel, “that 
I have to communicate.” 

He kept the paper in his hand, and his colleagues waited 
eagerly for him to speak. To the surprise of all he rose, 
and, advancing to Matthew Strux, said,— 

“Before communicating the intelligence conveyed in 
this paper, I should wish to make an observation to you.” 

“Tam ready to hear any thing you may say,” said 
Strux, much astonished. 

The Colonel then said solemnly,— 

“Mr. Strux, hitherto there has been between us a rivalry 
more personal than scientific, which has rendered our co- 
operation in the common cause somewhat difficult. This, 
I believe, is to be attributed to the fact of there being two 
of us at the head of this expedition. Toavoid antagonism, 
there should be only one chief to every enterprise. You 
-agree with me, do you not?” 

Strux bowed in assent. The Colonel went on,— 

“This position, unpleasant for each of us, must, through 
recent circumstances, now be changed. First, sir, let me 
say that I esteem you highly, as your position in the 
scientific world demands. I beg you to believe that I 
regret all that has passed between us.” 


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** War is declared between England and Russia.’?—[Page 133.) 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 133 


These words were uttered with great dignity, even with 
pride. Therewas no humiliation in the voluntary apology, 
so nobly expressed, and neither Strux nor his colleagues 
could guess his motive. Perhaps the Russian, not having 
the same incentive, was not equally disposed to forget any 
personal resentment. However, mastering his ill-feeling, 
he replied,— , 

“With you, Colonel, I think that no rivalry on our part 
should be permitted to injure the scientific work with 
which we are entrusted. I likewise hold you in the esteem 
that your talents deserve, and in future I will do all in my : 
power to efface any personality from our relations. But 


9 


you spoke of a change; I do not understand 





“You will: soon be made to understand, Mr. Strux,” 
replied the Colonel, with a touch of sadness in his tone, 
“but first give me your hand.” : 

“Here it is,” rejoined Strux, with a slight hesitation. 
Without another word the astronomers joined hands, 

“ Now you are friends,” cried Sir John. 

“Alas! no,” said the Colonel, dropping the Russian’s 
hand ; “henceforth we are enemies, separated by an abyss 
which must keep us apart even on the territory of science.” 

Then turning to his colleagues, he added,— 

“Gentlemen, war is declared between England and 
Russia. See, the news is conveyed by these English, 
French, and Russian newspapers. 


134 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


And, in truth, the war of 1854 had begun. The English, 
with their allies the French and Turks, were fighting before 
Sebastopol, and the Eastern question was being submitted 
to the ordeal of a naval conflict on the Black Sea. | 

The Colonel’s words fell like a thunderbolt. The English 
and Russians, with their strong sentiment of nationality, 
started to their feet. Those three words, “ War is declared,” 
were enough. They were no longer companions united in 
a common labour, but already eyed one another as avowed 
antagonists. Such is the influence of these national duels 
on the heart of man. An instinctive impulse had divided 
the Europeans—Nicholas Palander himself yielding to the 
feeling: Emery and Zorn alone regarded each other with 
more of sadness than animosity, and regretted that they 
had not shaken hands before Colonel Everest’s commu- 
_ nication. No further conversation ensued; exchanging 
bows, English and Russians retired. | 

This novel situation, although it would not interrupt the 
survey, would render its continuation more difficult. For 
the interest of its country, each party desired to pursue 
the operations; but the measurements must be carried 
along two different meridians. In a formal interview -sub- 
sequently arranged between the chiefs, it was decided by 
lot that the Russians should continue the meridian already 
begun, while the English should choose an arc 60 or 80 
miles to the west, and unite it to the first by a series of 








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The Parting of Emery and Zorn. —[Page 135. ] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 135 





auxiliary triangles ; they would then continue their survey 
as far as lat. 20°. 

All these arrangements were made without any out- 
break: personal rivalry was swallowed up by national 
feeling, and the Colonel and Strux did not exchange an 
uncivil word, but kept within the strictest limits of 
politeness. 

The caravan was equally divided, each party preserving 
its own stores. The steam-boat fell by lot to the Russians. 
: Mokoum, especially attached to Sir John, followed the 
English caravan. The pioneer, equally experienced, 
headed the Russians. Each party retained its instru- 
ments and one of the registers. 

On the 31st of August the Commission divided. The 
English cordially thanked the missionaries for their kind 
hospitality, and started first to connect their last station 
with their new meridian. 

If, before their departure, any one had entered the 
privacy of the inner room, he would have seen Emery 
grasping the hand of Zorn, once his friend, but now, by 
the will of their Majesties the Queen of England and the 
Czar of Russia, no longer friend, but foe, 


136 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF | 


Ce ee a a a a 


CHAPTER XV. 
A GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION, 


AFTER the separation the English astronomers continued 
‘their labours with the same care and precision as hitherto. 
Three had now to do the work of six, and consequently 
the survey advanced more slowly, and was attended with 
more fatigue; but they were not the men to spare them-— 
selves; the desire that the Russians should not surpass 
them in any way sustained them in their task, to which 
they gave all their time and thoughts. Emery had to 
indulge in fewer reveries, and Sir John could not so often 
spare his time for hunting. A new programme was drawn 
up, assigning to each astronomer his proper share of the 
labour. Sir John and the Colonel undertook all obser- 
vations both in the sky and in the field; while Emery 
replaced Palander as calculator. All questions were 
decided in common, and there was no longer any fear 
that disagreement should arise. Mokoum was still the 
guide and hunter to the caravan. The English sailors, 
who formed half the crew of the “Queen and Czar,” had, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 137 


of course, followed their countrymen; and although the 
Russians were-in possession of the steam-vessel, the India- 
rubber boat, which was large enough for ordinary purposes, 
was the property of the English, The provision-waggons 
were divided, thus impartially ensuring the revictualling of 
each caravan. The natives likewise had to be severed into 
two equal troops, not without some natural signs of dis- 
pleasure on their part; far from their own pasturages and 
water-courses, in a region inhabited by wandering tribes 
hostile to the tribes of the south, they could scarcely be 
reconciled to the ‘prospect of separation. But at length, 
by the help of the bushman and the pioneer, who told 
them that the two detachments would be comparatively 
a short distance apart, they consented to the arrange- 
ment. | 

On leaving Kolobeng the English caravan re-entered 
the burnt forest and arrived at the cromlech which had 
served for their last station. Operations were resumed, 
and a large triangle carried the observers at once ten or 
twelve miles to the west of the old meridian. 

Six days later the auxiliary series of triangles was 
finished, and Colonel Everest and his colleagues, after 
consulting the maps, chose the new arc one degree west of 
the other, being 23° east of the meridian of Greenwich. 
They were not more than sixty miles from the Russians, 


but this distance put any collision hetween the two parties 


138 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


out of the question, as it was fnpscpabie that their 
triangles would cross. 

All through September the weather was fine and clear. 
The country was fertile and varied, but scantily populated. 
- The forests, which were few, being broken by wide, open 
tracts, and with occasional mounds occurring in the prairies, 
made the district extremely favourable for the observations, 
The region was well provided with natural productions. 
The sweet scent of many of the flowers attracted swarms 
of scarabzi, and more especially a kind of bee as nearly 
as possible like the European, depositing in clefts of rocks 
and holes of trees a white liquid honey with a delicious 
flavour, Occasionally at night large animals ventured near 
the camp; there were giraffes, varieties of antelopes, 
hyenas, rhinoceroses, and elephants. But Sir John would 
not be distracted, he eye discarded his rifle for his 
telescope. 

Under these circumstances, Mokoum and some of the 
natives became purveyors to the caravan, and Sir John had 
some difficulty in restraining his excitement when he heard 
the report of their guns. The bushman shot three prairie- 
bufialoes, the Bokolokolos of the Bechuanas, formidable 
animals, with glossy black skins, short strong legs, fierce 
eyes, and small heads crowned with thick black horns, 
They were a welcome addition to the fresh venison which 
formed the ordinary fare, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 139 


The natives prepared the buffalo-meat as the Indians of 
the north do their pemmican. The Europeans watched 
their proceedings with interest, though at first with some 
repugnance. The flesh, after being cut into thin slices and ' 
dried in the sun, was wrapped in a tanned skin, and beaten 
with flails till it was reduced to a powder. It was then 
pressed tightly into leathern sacks, and moistened with 
boiling tallowy suet collected from the animal itself. To 
this they added some marrow and berries, whose saccharine ~ 
matter modified the nitrous elements of the meat. This 
compound, after being mixed and beaten, formed, when 
cold, a cake as hard as a stone. Mokoum, who considered 
his pemmican a national delicacy, begged the astronomers 
to taste the preparation. At first they found it extremely 
unpalatable, but, becoming accustomed to the flavour, they 
soon learnt to partake of it with great relish. Highly 
nourishing, and not at all likely to be tainted, containing, 
moreover, its nutritive elements closely compacted, this A 
pemmican was exactly suited to meet the wants of a cara- 
van travelling in an unknown country. The bushman soon 
hhad several hundred pounds in reserve, and they were thus 
secure from any immediate want. 

Days and nights passed away in observations. Emery 
was always thinking of his friend, and deploring the fate 
which had so suddenly severed the bond of their friend- 
ship. He had no one to sympathize with his admiration 


140 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


of the wild characteristics of the scenery, and, with some- 
thing of Palander’s enthusiasm, found refuge in his calcu- 
lations. Colonel Everest was cold and calm as ever, 
exhibiting no interest in any thing beyond his professional 
pursuits. As for Sir John, he suppressed his murmurs, but 
sighed over the loss of his freedom. Fortune, however, 
sometimes made amends; for although he had no leisure 
for hunting, the wild beasts occasionally took the initiative, 
and came near, interrupting his observations. He then | 
considered defence legitimate, and rejoiced to be able to 
make the duties of the astronomer and of the hunter to be 
compatible. | } 7 

One day he had a serious rencontre with an old rhino- 
ceros, which cost him “rather dear.” For some time the 
animal had been prowling about the flanks of the caravan. 
By the blackness of his skin Mokoum had recognized the 
“chucuroo” (such is the native for this animal) as a 
dangerous beast, and one which, more agile than the white 
species, often attacks man and beast without any provoca- 
tion. : 

On this day Sir John and Mokoum had set off to 
reconnoitre a hill six miles away, on which the Colonel 
wished to establish an indicating-post. With a certain 
_ foreboding, Sir John had brought his rifle with conical shot 
- instead of his ordinary gun; for although the rhinoceros 
had not been seen for two days, yet he did not consider it 


7 poles ~ 


rig 


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‘* The Rhinoceros!’ exclaimed Sir John, — [Page 141. ]} 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. I41 — 





advisable to traverse unarmed an unknown country. 
‘Mokoum and his companions had already unsuccessfully 
chased the beast, which probably now had abandoned its 
designs. There was no reason to regret the precaution. 
The adventurers had reached the summit of the hill, when 
at the base, close to a thicket, of no ‘large extent, appeared 
the chucuroo. He was a formidable animal; his small 
eyes sparkled, and his horns, planted firmly one over the 
other on his bony nose, furnished a most powerful weapon 
of attack. 

The bushman caught sight of him first, as he crouched 
about half a mile distant in a grove of lentisk. 

“Sir John,” he cried, “fortune favours you: here is your 
chucuroo!” 

2e The rhinoceros !” exclaimed Sir John, with kindling 
eyes, for he had never before been so near the animal. 

“Yes; a magnificent beast, and he seems inclined to cut 
off our retreat,” said the bushman. “Why he should 
attack us, I can hardly say; his tribe is not carnivorous: 
but any way, there he is, and we must hunt him out.” 

“Is it possible for him to get up here to us?” asked Sir 
John. ee 

“No; his legs are too short and thick, but he will wait.” 


“Well, let him wait,” said Sir John ; “and when we have 
examined this station, we will try and get him out.” 
They then proceeded with their reconnoitring, and chose 


142 © © MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


a spot on-which to erect the indicating-post. They also 
noticed other eminences to the north-west which would be 
of use in constructing a subsequent triangle. 

Their work ended, Sir John turned to the bushman, 
saying, “ When you like, Mokoum.” 

“T am at your orders, Sir John: the rhinoceros is still 
waiting.” 

“Well, let us go down, a ball from my rifle will soon 
settle matters.” 

“A ball!” cried Mokoum; “you don’t know a rhino- 
eros. He won't fall with one ball, however well it may be 
aimed.” : 

“Nonsense!” began Sir John, “that is because people 
don’t use conical shot.” 

“ Conical or round,” rejoined.the bushman, “ the first will 
not bring down such an animal as that,” | 

“Well,” said Sir John, carried away by his self-confi- 
dence, “as you have your doubts, I will show you what our 
[uropean weapons can do.” - : 

And he loaded his rifle, to be ready to take aim as soon 
as he should be at a convenient distance. 

“One moment, Sir John,” said the bushman, rather 
piqued, “will you bet with me?” 

“ Certainly,” said Sir John, 

“JT am only a poor man,” continued Mokoum, “but I 
will willingly bet you half-a-crown against your first ball.” 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 143 


“Done!” replied Sir John instantly. ‘ Half-a-crown to 
you if the rhinoceros doesn’t fall to my first shot.” 

The hunters descended the steep slope, and were soon 
posted within range of the rhinoceros. The beast was 
perfectly motionless, and on that account presented an 
easy aim. | ‘ 

Sir John thought his chance so good, that at the last 
moment he turned to Mokoum and said,— 

“Do you keep to your bargain ?” 

“Yes,” replied the bushman. 

The rhinoceros still being as motionless as a target, Sir 
John could aim wherever he thought the blow would be 
mortal. He chose the muzzle, and, his pride being roused, 
he aimed with the utmost care, and- fired. The ball failed 
in reaching the flesh ; it had merely shattered to fragments 
the extremity of one of the korns. The animal did not 
appear to experience the slightest shock. 

“That counts nothing,” said the bushman, “you didn’t 
touch the flesh.” 

“Yes, it counts,” replied Sir John, rather vexed ; “I have 
lost my wager. But come now, double or quits?” 

“As you please, Sir John, but you will lose.” , 

“We shall see.” ? 

‘The rifle was carefully re-loaded, and Sir John, taking 
rather a random aim, fired a second time ; but meeting the 
horay skin of the haunch, the ball, notwithstanding its 


144 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 
force, fell to the ground. The rhinoceros moved a few > 
steps. . 

“A crown to me,” said Mokoum. 
~ “Will you stake it again?” asked Sir John, “double or » 
quits.” aig 
_ “By all means,” said Mokoum. 

This time Sir John, who had begun to get angry, re- 
gained his composure, and aimed at the animal’s forehead. 
The ball rebounded, as if it had struck a metal plate. 

“ Half-a-sovereign,” said the bushman calmly. 

“Yes, and another,” cried Sir John, exasperated. 

The shot penetrated the skin, and the rhinoceros made 
a tremendous bound; but instead of falling, he rushed 
furiously upon the bushes, which he tore and crushed 
violently. 

“I think he still moves,” said the bushman quietly. 

Sir John was beside himself; his composure again 
deserted him, and he risked the sovereign he owed the 
bushman on a fifth ball.” He continued to lose again and 
again, but persisted in doubling the stake at every shot. 
At length the animal, pierced to the heart, fell, impotent to 
rise to its feet. 

) Sir John uttered a loud hurrah; he had killed his 
rhinoceros. He had forgotten his‘ disappointment, but he 
did not forget his bets. It was startling to find that the 


perpetually redoubled stakes had mounted at the ninth | 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND’ THREE RUSSIANS. 145 


shot to 32/7, Sir John congratulated himself on his escape 
from such a debt of honour; but in his enthusiasm he pre- 
sented Mokoum with several gold pieces which the bush- 
man received with his usual equanimity. 


146 MERIDIANA ; THE.ADVENTURES OF 


ne er ere 


CHAPTER XVI. 


DANGER IN DISGUISE. 


By the end of September the astronomers had accom- 
plished half their task.. Their diminished numbers added 
to their fatigue, so that, notwithstanding their zeal, they 
occasionally had to recruit themselves byresting for several 
days. The heat was very overpowering. October in lat. 
24° S. corresponds to April in Algeria, and for some 
hours after mid-day work was impossible. The bushman 
was alone uneasy at the delay, for he was aware that the 
~ arc was about to pass through a singular region called a 
“karroo,” similar to that at the foot of the Roggeveld 
mountains in Cape Colony. In the damp season this dis- 
trict presents signs of the greatest fertility ; after a few 

days of rain the soil is covered with a dense verdure ; in a : 
_very short time flowers and plants spring up every where ; 
pasturage increases, and water-courses are formed ; troops 
of antelopes descend from the heights and take possession 
of these unexpected prairies, But this strange effort of 


nature is of short duration. In a month, or six weeks 


- THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 147 


at most, all the moisture is absorbed by the sun; the soil 
- becomes hardened, and chokes the fresh germs ; vegetation 
disappears in a few days; the animals fly the region ; and 
where for a while there was a rich fertility, the desert again ’ 
asserts its dominion. - , 7 

This karroo had to be crossed before reaching the perma- 
nent desert bordering on Lake Ngami. The bushman was 
naturally eager to traverse this region before the extreme 
aridity should have exhausted the springs. He explained 
his reasons to the Colonel, who perfectly understood, and 
promised to hurry on the work, without suffering its pre- 
cision to be affected. Since, on account of the state of the 
atmosphere, measuring was not always practicable, the 
operations were not unfrequently retarded, and the bush- 
man became seriously concerned lest when they reached 
the karroo its character of fertility should have dis- 
appeared. | : 

Meanwhile the astronomers could not fail to appreciate 
the magnificence around. Never had they been in finer 
country. In spite of the high temperature, the streams 
kept up a constant freshness, and thousands of flocks would 
have foundginexhaustible pasturage. Clumps of luxuriant - 
trees rose here and there, giving the prospect at times the 
appearance of an English park. : 

Colonel Everest was comparatively indifferent to these. 
beauties, but the others were fully alive to the romantic 

I, 2 


#48 MERIDIANA$ THE ADVENTURES OF 

aspect of this temporary relief to the African deserts, 
Emery now especially regretted the alienation of his friend 
Zorn, and often thought how they would have mutually 
delighted in the charming scenery around them. 

’ ‘The advance of the caravan was enlivened by the move- 
ments as well as by the song-notes of a variety of birds. 
Some of these were edible, and the hunters shot some 
brace of “korans,” a sort of bustard peculiar to the South 
African plains, and some “dikkops,” whose flesh is very 
delicate eating. They were frequently followed by vora- 
cious crows, instinctively seeking to avert attention from 
their eggs in their nests of sand. In addition to these, 
blue cranes with white throats, red flamingoes, like flameg 
in the thinly scattered brushwood, herons, curlews, snipes, 
“kalas,” often perching on a buffalo’s neck, plovers, ibises, 
which might have flown from some hieroglyphic obelisk, 
hundreds of enormous pelicans marching in file,—all were 
observed to find congenial habitats in this district, where 
man alone is the stranger. But of all the varieties of the 
feathered race, the most noticeable was the ingenious 
weaver-bird, whose green nests, woven with rushes and 
blades of grass, hung like immense pears from the branches 
of the willows. Emery, taking them for a new species of 
fruit, gathered one or two, and was much surprised to hear 
them twitter like sparrows. There seemed some excuse 
for the ancient travellers in Africa, who reported that 


M hits. to 
Aer hae 


Sap eee near 
be reees Sere Pe 
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saree 


TREAT Terres 





The Advance of the Caravan.—[Page 148 ] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 149 


certain trees in the country bore fruit producing living 
birds. 

The karroo was reached while still it was lovely in its 
verdure. Gnus, with their pointed hoofs, caamas, elks, 
chamois, and gazclles abounded. Sir John could not resist 
the temptation to obtain two days’ leave from the Colonel, 
which he devoted with all his energy to his favourite 
pastime. Under the guidance of the bushman, while 
Emery accompanied as an amateur, he obtained many a 
success to inscribe in his journal, and many a trophy to 
carry back to his Highland home. His hand, skilful with 
the delicate instruments of the survey, was at home still 
more on his gun; and his eye, keen to discern the remotest 
‘of stars, was quick to detect the merest movement of a 
: gazelle. It was ever with something of self-denial that he 
laid aside the character of the hunter to resume the duties 
of the astronomer. The bushman’s uneasiness was ere 
long renewed. On the second day of Sir John’s interval of 
recreation, Mokoum had espied, nearly two miles to the 
right, a herd of about twenty of the species of antelope 
-known asthe oryx. He told Sir John at once, and advised 
him to take advantage of the fortune that awaited him, 
adding that the oryx was extremely difficult to capture, 
and could outstrip the fleetest horse, and that Cumming 
himself had not. brought down more than four. 


* ° 
This was more than enough to arouse the Englishman. 


150 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


He chose his best gun, his best horse, and his best dogs, 
and, in his impatience preceding the bushman, he turned 


towards the copse bordering the plain where the antelopes 


had been seen. In an hour they reined in their horses, . ~ 


and Mokoum, concealed by a grove of sycamores, pointed 
out to his companion the herd grazing several hundred 
paces to- leeward. He remarked that one oryx kept 
apart. : 

“He is a sentinel,” he said, “and doubtless cunning 
enough. At the slightest danger, he will give his signal, 
and the whole troop will make their escape. We must fire 
from a long distance, and hit at the first shot.” 

Sir John nodded in reply, and sought for a favourable 
position, 

The oryxes continued quietly grazing. The sentinel, as 
though the breeze had brought suspicions of danger, often 
raised his head, and looked warily around. - But he was 
too far away for the hunters to fire at him with success, 
and to chase the herd over the plain was out of the ques- 
tion. The only hope of a lucky issue was that the herd 


might approach the copse. 


Fortune seemed propitious. Gradually following the lead 
of the sentinel male, the herd drew near the wood, their in- 
stinct, perchance, making them aware that it was safer than 


the plain. When their direction was seen, the bushman 


asked his companion to dismount. The horses were tied 


ROE Saree hom ea 
RAO RAAT AICO ¢. 
PRIA SS ARETE A Tee, SI 


ck 


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The Hunters glided through the Creepers and Brushwood,—[Page 151. ] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 151 


to a sycamore, and their heads covered to secure them 
from taking alarm. 

Followed by the dogs, the hunters. glided through the 
creepers and brushwood till they were within three hundred 
paces of the troop. Then, crouching in ambush, and wait- 
ing with loaded guns, they could admire the beauty of the 
animals. By a strange freak of nature, the females Were 
armed with horns more formidable than those of the males. 
The whole hérd approached the wood, and awhile remained 
stationary. The sentinel oryx, as it seemed, was urging 
them to leave the-plain; he appeared to be driving them, 
something like a sheep-collie congregates a flock, into a 
compact mass. The herd seemed strangely indifferent, and 
indisposed to submit to the euidance of their leader. The 
bushman was. perplexed; he could not understand the 
relative movements of the sentinel and the herd. 

Sir John began to get impatient. He fidgeted with his 
rifle, sometimes wanting to fire, sometimes to advance; and 
the bushman had some trouble to restrain him. An hour 
passed away in this manner, when suddenly one of the dogs 
gave a loud bark, and rushed towards the plain. The bush- 
man felt angry enough to send a ball into the excited brute 
The oryxes fled, and Sir John saw at once that pursuit was 
useless; in a few seconds they were no more than black 
specks in the grass. But to the bushman’s astonishment it 


was not the old male which had given the signal for flight. 


152 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


The oryx remained in its place, without attempting to fol- 
low, and only tried to hide in the grass. 

“Strange,” said the bushman; “what ails the creature ? 
Is he hurt, or crippled with age?” 

“We shall soon see,” said Sir John, advancing towards 
the animal. 

The oryx crouched more and more in the grass; only the 
tips of his long horns were visible above the surface; but 
as he did not try to escape, Sir John could easily get near 
him. When within a hundred paces he took aim, and fired. 
The ball had struck the head, for the horns sunk into the 
grass. The hunters ran hastily to the spot. The bushman 
held in his hand his hunting-knife, in case the animal 
should still live. This precaution was unnecessary ; the 
oryx was so dead, that when Sir John took hold of the 
horns, he pulled nothing but an empty flabby skin, contain-. 
ing not so much as a bone. 

“ ee! St. Andrew! these things hepaca to no one but 

’ he cried, in a tone so comical that any one but the 
ae Mokoum would have laughed outright. But 
Mokoum did not even smile. His compressed lips and 
contracted brow showed him to be utterly bewildered, — 
With his arms crossed, he looked quickly right and left. ; 

Suddenly he caught sight of a little red leather bag, 
ornamented with arabesques, on the ground, which he 
picked up and examined carefully. 






























































































































































































































































































































































































































































‘The empty Oryx Skin. —[Page 152. ] 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 1523 





“ What's that?” asked Sir John. . 
“ A Makololo’s pouch,” replied Mokoum. 
“ How did it get there?” 

“ The owner let it fall as he fled.” 
“What do you mean ?” » 


“TI mean,” said Mokoum, clenching his fists, “that the 
Makololo was in the oryx skin, and you have missed him.” 

Sir John had not time to express his astonishment, when 
Mokoum, observing a movement in the distance, with all 
speed seized his gun and fired. 

Heand Sir John hastened to the suspected spot. But the 
place was empty : they could perceive by the trampled grass 
that some one had just been there ; but the Makololo was 
gone, and it was useless to think of pursuit across the prairie. 

The two hunters returned, much discomposed. The 
presence of a Makololo at the cromlech, together with his 
disguise, not unfrequently adopted by oryx hunters, showed 
that he had systematically followed the caravan. It was 
not without design that he was keeping watch upon the 
Europeans and their escort. The more they advanced to 
the north, the. greater danger there would be of being 
attacked by the plunderers. 

- Emery was inclined to banter Sir John on his return 
from his holiday without booty ; but Sir John replied,— 

“T hadn’t a chance, William ; the first oryx I hunted was. 
dead before I shot at him.” | 


154 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


oe 


CHAPTER XVII. 
AN UNEXPECTED BLIGHT. 


AFTER the oryx hunt the bushman had a long conversa- 
tion with the Colonel. He felt sure, he said, that they were 
watched and followed, and that the only reason why they 
had not been attacked before was because the Makololos 
wished to get them farther north, where their hordes were 
larger. The question thus arose whether, in presence of 
this danger, they should retrace their steps; but they were 
reluctant to suffer that which nature had favoured to be 
interrupted by the attacks of a few African savages. The 
. Colonel, aware of the importance of the question, asked 
the bushman to tell him all he knew about the Makololos. 
Mokoum explained that they were the most northerly 
branch ot the great tribe of the Bechuanas. In 1850 Dr. 
Livingstone, during his first journey to the Zambesi, was 
received at Sesheki, the usual residence of Sebitouani, the - 
chief of the Makololos. This native was a man of remark- 
able intelligence, and 4 formidable warrior. In 1824 he 
had menaced the Cape frontier, and, little by little, had 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 155 


gained an ascendency over the tribes of Central Africa, 
and had united them in a compact group. In the year 
before the arrival of the Anglo-Russian expedition the 
chief had died in Livingstone’s arms, and his son Sekeleton 
succeeded him. ? 

At first Sekeleton was very friendly towards the Euro- 
peans who visited the Zambesi, and Dr. Livingstone had no 
complaint to make. But after the departure of the famous 
traveller, not only strangers but the neighbouring tribes 
were harassed by Sekeleton and his warriors. To these 
vexations succeeded pillage on a large scale, and the 
Makololos scoured the district between Lake Ngami and 
the Upper Zambesi. Consequently nothing -was: more 
dangerous than for a caravan to venture across this region 
without a considerable escort, especially when its progress 
had been previously known. 

Such was the history given by Mokoum. He said that 
he thought it right to tell the Colonel the whole truth, 
adding, that for his own part (if the Colonel so wished) he 
_ should not hesitate to continue the march. 

Colonel Everest consulted with his colleagues, and it was 
settled that the work, at all risks, should be continued. 
Something more than half of the project was now accom- 
plished, and, whatever happened, the English owed itto them- 
selves and their country not to abandon their undertaking. 
The series of triangles was resumed. On the 27th the tropic 


= 


156 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





of Capricorn was passed, and on the 3rd of November, with 
the completion of the forty-first triangle, a fifth degree was 
added to the meridian. « 

For a month the survey went on rapidly, without meeting 
a single natural obstacle. Mokoum, always on the alert, 
kept a constant look-out at the head and flanks of the 
caravan, and forbade the hunters to venture too great a 
distance away. No immediate danger, however, seemed 
to threaten the little troop, and they were sanguine that the 
bushman’s fears might prove groundless. There was no 
further trace of the native who, after eluding them at the 
cromlech, had taken so strange a part in the oryx chase: 
nor did any other aggressor appear. Still, at various inter- 
vals, the bushman observed signs of trepidation among the 
Bocnjesmen under his command. The incidents of the 
flight from the old cromlech, and the stratagem of the oryx 
hunt, could not be concealed from them, and they were 
perpetually expecting an attack. A deadly antipathy 
existed between tribe and tribe, and, in the event of'a colli- 
sion, the defeated party could entertain no hope of mercy. 
The Bochjesmen were already 300 miles from their home, 
and there was every prospect of their being carried 200 
more. It is true that, before engaging them, Mokoum had 
been careful to inform them of the length and difficulties 
of the journey, and they were not men to shrink from 
fatigue; but now, when to these was added the danger of 


~ 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND. THREE RUSSIANS. 157 
a conflict with implacable enemies, regret was mingled 
with murmuring, and dissatisfaction was exhibited with 
ill-humour, and although Mokoum pretended neither to 
hear nor to see, he was silently conscious of an increasing 
anxiety. 

On the 2nd of December a circumstance occurred which ~ 
still further increased the spirit of complaint amongst this 
superstitious people, and provoked them toa kind of rebel- 
lion. Since the previous evening the weather had become 
dull. The atmosphere, saturated with vapour, gave signs of 
being heavily charged with electric fluid. There was every 
prospect of the recurrence of one of the storms which in this 
tropical district are seldom otherwise than violent. During 
the morning the sky became covered with sinister- looking 
clouds, piled together like bales of down of contrasted colours, 
the yellowish hue distinctly relieving the masses of dark 
grey. The sun was wan, the heat was overpowering, and 
the barometer fell rapidly ; the air was so still that not a 
leaf fluttered. 

Although the astronomers had not been unconscious of 
the change of weather, they had not thought it necessary 
to suspend their labours. Emery, attended by two sailors 
and four natives in charge of a waggon, was sent two miles 
east of the meridian to establish a post for the vertex of 
the next triangle. He was occupied in securing his point of 
sight, when a current of cold air caused a rapid condensa- 


158 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 

tion, which appeared to contribute immediately to a deve- 
lopment of electric matter. Instantly there fell a violent 
- shower of hail, and by a rare phenomenon the_hailstones 
were luminous, so that it seemed to be raining drops of 
boiling silver. The storm increased ; sparks flashed from 
the ground, and jets of light gleamed from the iron settings 
of the waggon. Dr. Livingstone relates that he has seen 
tiles broken, and horses and antelopes killed, by the 
violence of these hail-storms. 

Without losing a moment, Emery left his work for the 
purpose of calling his men to the waggon, which would 
afford better shelter than a tree. But he had hardly left 
the top of the hill, when a dazzling flash, instantly followed 
by a peal of thunder, inflamed the air. 3 

Emery was thrown down, and lay prostrate, as though 
he were actually dead. The two sailors, dazzled for a 
moment, were not long in rushing towards him, and were 
‘relieved to find that the thunderbolt had spared him. He 
had been enveloped by the fluid, which, collected by the 
compass which he held in his hand, had been diverted in 
its course, so as to leave him not seriously injured. Raised 
by the sailors, he soon came to himself; but he had nar- 
rowly escaped. Two natives, twenty paces apart, lay life- 
less at the foot of the post. One had been struck by the 
full force of the thunderbolt, and was a black and shattered 
corpse, while his clothes remained entire; the other had 





























Emery and two Natives struck by Lightning. —[Page 158. ] 


% teams, J 


Pa, 


Pape 


oh ee TN. 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND .THREE RUSSIANS. 159 


been locally struck on the skull.by the destructive fluid, 
and had been killed at once. The three men had been 
undeniably struck by a single flash. This trisection of a 
flash of lightning is an unusual but not unknown occur- 
rence, and the angular division was very large. The Boch- 
jesmen were at first overwhelmed by the sudden death of 
their comrades, but soon, in spite of the cries of the sailors 
and_at the risk of being struck themselves, they rushed back 
to the camp. The two sailors, having first provided for the 
protection of Emery, conveyed the two dead bodies to the 
waggon, and then found shelter for themselves, being sorely 
bruised by the hailstones, which fell like a shower of 
marbles. For three quarters of an hour the storm con- 
tinued to rage; the hail then abated so as to allow the 
waggon to return to camp. 

The news of the death of the natives had preceded them, 
and had produced a deplorable effect on the minds of the 
Bochjesmen, who already looked upon the trigonometrical 
operations with the terror of superstition. They .assembled 
in secret council, and some more timid than the rest 
declared they would go no farther. The rebellious dis- 
position began to look serious, and it took allthe bushman’s 
influence to arrest an actual revolt. Colonel Everest offered 
the poor men an increase of pay ; but contentment was not 
to be restored without much trouble. It was a matter of 


emergency ; had the natives deserted, the position of the 


160 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





caravan, without escort and without drivers, would have been 
perilous in the extreme. At length, however, the difficulty 
was overcome, and after the burial of the natives, the camp 
was raised, and the little troop proceeded to the hill where 
the two had met their death. 

Emery felt the shock for some days: his left hand, which 
had held the compass, was almost paralyzed; but after a 
time it recovered, and he was able to resume his work. 

For eighteen days no special incident occurred. The 
Makololos did not appear, and Mokoum, though still dis- 
trustful, exhibited fewer indications of alarm. They were 
not more than fifty miles from the desert; and the karroo 
was still verdant, and enriched by abundant water. They 
thought that neither man nor beast could want for any 
thing in this region so rich in game and pasturage; but 
they had reckoned without the locusts, against whose 
appearance there is no security in the agricultural districts 
of South Africa. 

On the evening of the 20th, about an hour before sunset 
the camp was arranged for the night. A light northerly 
breeze refreshed the atmosphere. The three Englishmen 
and Mokoum, resting at the foot of a tree, discussed their 
plans for the future. It was arranged that during the night 
the astronomers should take the altitude of some stars, in 
order accurately to find their latitude. Every thing seemed 
favourable for the operations; in a cloudless sky the moon 


i 


S 


eal ues 
ae? 




































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































A strange Cloud.—[Page 161.] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 161 





was nearly new, and the constellations might be expected 
to beclear and resplendent. Great was the disappointment, 
- therefore, when Emery, rising and pointing to the north, 
said,— 

whe honerre: is overcast: I begin to fear our antici- 
pations of a fine night will hardly be verified.” 

“Yes,” replied Sir John, “I see a cloud is rising, 
and if the wind should freshen, it might Gvetspread the 
sky.” 

“There is not another storm coming, I hope,” interposed 
the Colonel. 

“We are in the tropics,” said Eine “and it would not 
be surprising ; for to-night I begin to have misgivings coe 
our observations.” : 

“What is your opinion, Mokoum ?” asked the Colonel of 
the bushman. : 

Mokoum looked attentively towards the north. The 
cloud was bounded by a long clear curve, as definite as — 
though traced by a pair of compasses. It marked off a 
section of some miles on the horizon, and its appearance, 
black as smoke, seemed to excite the apprehensions of the 
bushman. At times it reflected a reddish light from the 
setting sun, as though it were rather a solid mass than any 
collection of vapour. © Without direct reply to the Colonel’s 
appeal, Mokoum simply said that it was strange. | 

In a few minutes one of the Bochjesmen announced that 

M 


162 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


the horses and cattle showed signs of agitation, and would 
not be driven to the interior of the camp. | 7 

“Well, let them stay outside,” said’ Mokoum ; and in 
answer to the suggestion that there would be danger from 
the wild beasts around, he added significantly, “Oh, the 
wild beasts will be too much occupied to pay any attention 
to them.” 

After the native had gone back, Colonel Everest turned 
to ask what the bushman meant; but he had moved away, 
and was absorbed in watching the advance of the cloud, of 
which, too accurately, he was aware of the origin. 

The dark mass approached. It hung low and appeared 
to be but a few hundred feet from the ground. Mingling 
with the sound of the wind was heard a peculiar rustling, 
which seemed to proceed from the cloud itself. At this 
moment, above the cloud against the sky, appeared thou- 
sands of black specks, fluttering up and down, plunging in 
and out, and breaking the distinctness of the outline. 

“What are those moving specks of black?” asked Sir 
John. » 

“They are vultures, eagles, falcons, sind kites,” answered 
Mokoum, “from afar they have followed the cloud, and will 
never leave it until it is destroyed or dispersed.” 

“But the cloud ?” 

“Ts not a cloud at all,” answered the bushman, extending 
his hand towards the sombre mass, which by this time had 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 163 


spread over a quarter of the sky. “It is a living host; to 
say the truth, it is a swarm of locusts.” . 

The hunter was not. mistaken. The Europeans were 
about to witness one of those terrible invasions.of grass- 
hoppers which are unhappily too frequent, and in one night 
change the most fertile country into an arid desert, These 
locusts, now arriving by millions, were the “grylli devas- 
torii” of the naturalists, and travellers have seen for a 
distance of fifty miles the beach covered with piles of these 
insects to the height of four feet. 

“Yes,” continued the bushman, “these living clouds are 
a true scourge to the country, and it will be lucky if we 
escape without harm.” ; ESTA. 

“But we have no crops‘and pasturages of our own,” said ~ 
the Colonel; “what have we to fear ?” : 

“Nothing, if they merely pass over our heads; every 
thing, if they settle on the country over which we must 
travel. They will not leave a leaf on the trees, nor a blade 
of grass on the ground ; and you forget, Colonel, that if our 
own sustenance is secure, that of our animals is not. What 
do you suppose will become of us in the middle of a devas- 
tated district 2?” | 

The astronomers were silent for a time, and contemplated — 
the animated mass before them. The cries of the eagles 
and falcons, who were devouring the insects by thousands, 
sounded above the redoubled murmur. ; 

M 2 


164 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


“Do you think they will settle here?” said Emery. | 

“JT fear so,” answered Mokoum, “the wind carries them 
here direct.’ The sun is setting, and the fresh evening 
breeze will bear them down; should they settle on the 
+ DRE 
the bushman gould not finish his sentence. In an instant 
the enormous cloud which overshadowed them settled on 
the ground. Nothing could be seen as far as the horizon © 
but the thickening mass. The'camp was bestrewed ; wag- 
gons and tents alike were veiled beneath the living hail. 
The Englishmen, moving knee-deep in the insects, crushed 
them by hundreds at every step. 


trees, bushes, and prairies, why, then I tell you 





"Although there was no lack of agencies at work for their 
destruction, their ageregate defied all check. The birds, 
with hoarse cries, darted down from above, and devoured 
them greedily ; from below, the snakes consumed them in 
enormous quantities ; the horses, buffaloes, mules, and dogs 
fed on them with great relish ; and lions and hyenas, 
elephants and rhinoceroses, swallowed them down by 
bushels. The very Bochjesmen welcomed these “ shrimps 
of the air” like celestial manna; the insects even preyed on 
‘ each other, but their numbers still resisted all sources of 
destruction. 

The bushman entreated the English to taste the dainty. 
Thousands of young locusts, of a green colour, an inch toan 
inch and a half long, and about as thick as a quill, were 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 165 





caught. Before they have deposited their eggs, they are 
considered a great delicacy by connoisseurs, and are more 
tender than the old insects, which are of a yellowish tinge, 
and sometimes measure four inchesinlength. After half an 
hour’s boiling and seasoning with salt, pepper, and vinegar, 
the bushman served upa tempting dish to the three English- 
men. The insects, dismembered of head, legs,-and skin, 
were eaten just like shrimps, and were found extremely 
savoury. Sir John, who ate some hundreds, recommended 
his people to take advantage of the opportunity to make a 
large provision. — 

At night they were all about to seek their usual beds ; 
but the interior of the waggons had not escaped the invasion. 
It was impossible to enter without crushing the locusts, and 

to sleep under such conditions was not an agreeable prospect. 

Accordingly, as the night was clear and the stars bright, 
the astronomers were rejoiced to pursue their contemplated 
operations, and deemed it more pleasant than burying 
themselves to the neck in a coverlet of locusts. Moreover, 
they would not have had a moment’s sleep, on account of 
the howling of the beasts which were attracted by their 
unusual prey. | | 

The next day the sun rose in a clear horizon, and 
commenced its course over a brilliant sky foreboding heat. 
A dull rustling of scales among the locusts showed that 
they were about to carry their devastations elsewhere ; and 


166 | MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


towards eight o’clock the mass rose like the unfurling ‘of 
an immense veil, and obscured the sun. It grew dusk as if 
night were returning, and with the freshening of the wind 
the whole mass was in motion. For two hours, with a 
deafening noise, the cloud passed over the darkened camp, 
and disappeared beyond the western horizon. : 
After their departure the bushman’s predictions were 
found to be entirely realized. . All was demolished, andthe © 
soil was brown and bare. Every branch was stripped to 
utter nakedness. It was iike-a sudden winter settling in 
the height of summer, or like the dropping of a desert into’ 
the midst of a land of plenty.. The Oriental proverb which 
describes the devastating fury of the Osmanlis might justly 
be applied to these locusts, “Where the Turk- has passed, 


the grass springs up no. more.” 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 167 


SS Rl Ee Ree tee Bi SET ae na ial ae oe A a NRE 


CHAPTER XVIII. 
THE DESERT. 


IT was indeed no better than a desert which now lay 
before the travellers. When, on the 25th of December, 
they completed the measurement of another degree, and 
reached the northern boundary of the karroo, they found 
no difference between the district they had been traversing 
and the new country, the real desert, arid and scorching, 
over which they were now about to pass. The animals 
belonging to the caravan suffered greatly from the dearth 
alike of pasturage and water. The last drops of rain in 
the pools had dried up, and it was an acrid soil, a mixture 
of clay and sand, very unfavourable to vegetation. The 
waters of the rainy season filtered quickly through the 
sandy strata, so that the region was incapable of preserving 
for any length of time a particle of moisture. More than 
once has Dr. Livingstone carried his adventurous explora- 
tions across one of these barren districts. The very atmo- 


sphere was so dry, that iron left in the open air did not rust, 


168 - MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





and the distinguished traveller relates that the leaves hung 
weak and shrivelled ; that the mimosas remained closed by’ 
day as well as by night; that the scarabzi, laid on the 
ground,eexpired in a few seconds; and that the mercury in 
the ball of a thermometer buried three inches in the soil 
rose at midday to 134° Fahrenheit. 

These records which Livingstone had made were now 
verified by the astronomers between the karroo and Lake 
' Ngami. Thesuffering and fatigue, especially of the animals, 
continually increased, and the dry dusty grass afforded 
them but little nourishment. Nothing ventured on the 
desert ; the birds had flown beyond the Zambesi for fruit 
and flowers, and the wild beasts shunned the plain which 
offered them no prey. During the first fortnight in January 
the hunters caught sight of a few couples of those antelopes 
which are able to exist without water for several weeks. 
There were some oryxes like those in whose pursuit Sir 
John had sustained so great a disappointment, and there 
were besides, some dappled, soft-eyed caamas, which venture 
beyond the green pasturages, and which are much esteemed 
for the quality of their flesh. 

To travel under that burning sun tieonoh the stifling 
atmosphere, to work for days and nights in the oppressive 
sultriness, was fatiguing in the extreme. The reserve of 
water evaporated continuously, so they weré obliged to 
ration themselves to a painfully limited allowance. How- 















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 169 





ever, such were their zeal and courage that they mastered 
all their troubles, and not a single detail of their task was 
neglected. Onthe 25th of January they completed their 
seventh degree, the number of triangles constructed having 
amounted to fifty-seven. . 
~ Only a comparatively small portion of the desert had 
' now to be traversed, and the bushman thought that they 
would be able to reach Lake Ngami before their provision 
was exhausted. The Colonel and his companions thus had 
definite hopes, and were inspirited to persevere. But the 
hired Bochjesmen, who knew nothing of any scientific 
ardour, and who had been long ago reluctant to pursue their 
journey, could hardly be encouraged to hold out: unques- 
tionably they suffered greatly, and were objects for com- 
miseration. Already, too, some beasts of burden, overcome 
by hard work and scanty food, had been left behind, and 
it was to be feared that more would fall into the same 
helpless condition. -Mokoum had a difficult task to perform, : 
and as murmurs and recriminations increased, his influence 
more and more lost its weight. It became evident that the 
want of water would be a serious obstacle, and that the. 
expedition must either retrace its steps, or, at the risk of 
meeting the Russians, turn to the right of the meridian, to 
seek some of the villages which were known to be scattered 
along Livingstone’s route. 7 , 

It was not long, however, before the bushman one morn- 


i 
al 


170 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


* 





ing came to the Colonel, and declared himself powerless 
against the increasing difficulties. The drivers, he said, 
refused to obey him; and there were continued scenes of 
insubordination, in which all the natives joined. The 
Colonel perfectly well understood the situation; but stern 
to himself, he was stern to others. He refused to suspend 
his operations, and declared that although he went alone, 
he would continue to advance. His two companions of 


course agreed, and professed themselves ready to follow 


him. Renewed efforts of Mokoum persuaded the natives 


to venture a little farther: he felt sure that the caravan 
could not be more than five or six days’ march from Lake 
Ngami, and once there, the animals could find pasturage 
and shade, and the men an abundance of fresh water. - All 
these considerations he laid before the principal Bochjes- 


- men. He showed them that it was really best to advance 


northwards. If they turned to the west, their march would 
be perilous, and to turn back was only. to find the karroo 
desolate and dry. The natives at length yielded to his 
solicitations, and the almost exhausted caravan continued 
its course. | 

Happily this vast plain was in itself favourable to all 
astronomical observations, so that no delay arose from any 
natural obstruction. On one occasion there sprang up a 
sudden hope that nature was about to restore to them a 


. supply of the water of which she had been so niggardly. A 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. I7I1 
lagoon, a mile or two in extent, was discovered on the 
horizon. The reflection was indubitably of water, proving 
that what they saw was no mirage, due to the unequal 
density of the atmospheric strata. The caravan speedily 
turned in that direction, and the lagoon was reached towards 
five in the evening. Some of the horses broke away from 
their drivers, and galloped to the longed-for water. Having 
smelt it, they plunged in to their chests, but almost imme- 
diately returned to the bank. They had not drunk, and 
when the Bochjesmen arrived they found themselves by 
the side of a lagoon so impregnated with salt that its water 
could not be touched. Disappointment was keen, it was 
little short of despair. Mokoum thought that he should 
never induce the natives to proceed; but fortunately the 
only hope was in advancing, and even the natives were alive 
to the conviction that Lake Ngami was the nearest point 
where water could be procured. In four days, unless 
retarded by its labours, the expedition must reach the 
shores of the lake. 

7 Every day was momentous. To economize time, Colonel 


Everest formed larger triangles and established fewer posts, 


No efforts were spared to hurry on the progress of the 
survey. Notwithstanding the application of every energy, 
the painful sojourn in the desert was prolonged, and it was 


not until the 21st of February that the level ground began © 


to be rough and undulating, A mountain 500 or 600 feet 


t. = 


ad 


172 MERIDIANA, THE ADVENTURES OF 


» high was descried about fifteen miles to the north-west. 


The bushman recognized it as Mount Scorzef, and, pointing 
to the north, said,— 

“ Lake Negami is there.” 

“The Ngami! the Ngami!” echoed the natives, with noisy 
demonstration. They wished to hurry on in advance over the 
fifteen miles, but Mokoum restrained them, asserting that the 
country was infested by Makololos, and that it was important: 
to keep together. Colonel Everest, himself eager to reach 
the lake, resolved to connect by a single triangle the station 
he was now occupying with Mount Scorzef. Theinstruments — 
were therefore arranged, and the angle of the last triangle 
which had been already measured from the south was 
measured again from the station. Mokoum, in his impa- 
tience, only established a temporary camp ; he hoped to 
reach the lake before night; but he neglected none of his 
usual precautions, and prudently sent out horsemen right 
and left to explore the underwood. Since the oryx-chase 
the Makololos seemed indeed to have abandoned their watch, 
still he would not incur any risk of being taken by surprise. - 

Thus carefully euarded by the bushman, the astronomers 
constructed their triangle. According to Emery’s calcula- 
tions it would carry them nearly to the twentieth parallel, 
the proposed limit of their arc. A few more triangles on 
the other side of Lake Ngami would complete their eighth 


degree; to verify the calculations, a new base would 

























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































a 


MN 
































































































































































































































































































































ty 


eye xt ih 
vie fei he 
x 
fy 


baa a) 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 173 


, subsequently be measured directly on the ground, and the 
great enterprise would be ended, The ardour of the 
astronomers increased as they approached the fulfilment of 
their task. 

Meanwhile there was considerable curiosity as to what 
the Russians on their side had accomplished. For six 
months the members of the commission had been separated, 
and it seemed probable to the English that the Russians 
had not suffered so much from heat and thirst, since their 
course had lain nearer Livingstone’s route, and therefore in 
less arid regions. After leaving Kolobeng they would come 
across various villages to the right of their meridian, where 
they could easily revictual their caravan. But still it was 
not unlikely that in this less arid, though more frequented 
country, Matthew Strux’s little band had been more exposed 
to the attacks of the plundering Makololos, and this was 
the more probable, since they seemed to have abandoned 
the pursuit of the English caravan. 

Although the Colonel, ever engrossed, had no cought 
to bestow on these things, Sir John and Emery had often 
discussed the doings of their former comrades. They 
wondered whether they would come across them again, 
and whether they would find that they had obtained the 
same mathematical result as themselves, and whether the 
two computations of a degree in South Africa would be — 
identical. Emery did not cease to entertain kind memories | 


1A MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


of his friend, knowing well that Zorn, for his part, would 
never forget him. nee 

The measurement of the angles was now resumed. To 
obtain the angle at the station they now occupied, they had . 
to observe two points of sight. One of these was formed 
by the conical summit of Mount Scorzef, and the other by 
a sharp peak three or four miles to the left of the meridian, 
whose direction was easily obtained by one of the telescopes — 
of the repeating circle. Mount Scorzef was much more 
distant ; its position would compel the observers to diverge 
considerably to the right of the meridian, but on examination 
they found they had no other choice. The station was 
therefore observed with the second telescope of the repeating 
circle, and the angular distance between Mount Scorzef 
and the smaller peak was obtained. 

Notwithstanding the impatience of the natives, Colonel 
Everest, as calmly as though he were -in his own ob- . 
servatory, made many successive registries from the 
graduated circle of his telescope, and then, by taking the 
average of all his readings, he obtained a result rigorously 
exact. : 

The day glided on, and it was not until the darkness 
prevented the reading of the instruments, that the Colonel — 
brought his observations:to an end, saying,— 

“Tam at your orders, Mokoum ; we will start as soon as 


you like.” 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 175 


_ “And none too soon,” replied Mokoum ; “better had we 
accomplished our journey by daylight.” 

The proposal to start met with unanimous approval, and 
by seven o'clock the thirsty pane were once more on the 
march, 3 

Some strange foreboding seemed’ weighing on the mind 
_ of Mokoum, and he urged the three Europeans to look 
carefully to their rifles and to be well provided with ammu- 
nition. The night grew dark, the moon and stars were 
repeatedly veiled in mist, but the atmosphere near the 
ground was clear. The bushman’s keen vision was ever 
watching the flanks and front of the caravan, and _ his 
unwonted disquietude could not fail to be noticed by Sir 
John, who was likewise on the watch, They toiled through 
the weary evening, occasionally stopping to gather together 
the loiterers, and at ten o’clock’ they were ‘still six miles 
from the lake. The animals gasped for breath in an atmo- 
sphere so dry that the 2 Son could not have detected ° 
a trace of moisture. : 

Mokoum was iiidefatigable in his endeavours to keep the 
disorganized party close together; but,- in spite of his 
remonstrances, the caravan no longer presented a compact 
nucleus. Men and beasts stretched out into a long file, 
and some oxen had sunk exHausted to the ground. The 
dismounted horsemen could hardly drag themselves along, 


and any stragglers could have been easily carried off by 


176 _MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


the smallest band of natives. Mokoum went in evident 
anxiety from one to another, and with word and gestures _ 
tried to rally the troop; but his success was far from 
complete, and already, without his knowledge, some of his 
men were missing. 

By eleven o'clock the foremost waggons were hardly 
more than three miles from their destination. In the gloom 
of night Mount Scorzef stood out distinctly in ‘its solitary 
height, like an enormous pyramid, and the obscurity made 
its dimensions appear greater than they actually were. 
Unless Mokoum were mistaken, Lake Ngami lay just 
behind Mount Scorzef, so that the caravan must pass 
round its base in order to reach the tract of fresh water by 
the shortest route. | 

The bushman, in company with the three Europeans, 
took the lead, and prepared to turn to the left, when suddenly ~ 
some distinct, though distant reports, arrested their atten- 
tion. They reined in their horses, and listened with a 
natural anxiety. Ina country where the natives use only 
lances and arrows the report of European fire-arms was 
rather startling. The Colonel and Sir John simultaneously 
asked the bushman from whence the sound could proceed. | 
Mokoum asserted that he could perceive a light in the - 
shadow at the Lyin of Mount Scorzef, and that he had . 
no doubt that the Makololos were attacking a party of 
Europeans, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 1797 


ES Europeans !” cried Emery. 

“Yes,” replied Mokoum; “these reports can only be 
produced by European weapons.” 

“But what Europeans could they be?” began Sir John. 

“Be who they may,” broke in the Colonel, “we must go 
to their assistance.” 

“Yes ; come on,” said Emery, with no little excitement. 

Before setting off for the mountain, Mokoum, for the 
last time, tried to rally the small band. But when the 
bushman turned round the caravan was dispersed, the 
horses unyoked, the waggons forsaken, and a few scattered 
shadows were flying along the plain towards the south. 

“The cowards!” he cried; then turning to. the English, 
he said, “ Well, we must go on.” 

The Englishmen and the bushman, gathering up all the 
remaining strength of their horses, darted on to the north. - 
After a while they could plainly distinguish the war-cry 
of the Makololos. Whatever was their number, it was 
evident. they were making an.attack on Mount Scorzei, 
from the summit of which the flashes of fire continued 
Groups of men could be faintly distinguished ascending 
the sides. Soon the Colonel and his companions were on 
the rear of the besiegers. Abandoning their worn-out 
steeds, and shouting loud enough to be heard by the 
besieged, they fired at the mass of natives. The rapidity 
with which they re-loaded caused the Makololos to imagine 

N 


\ 


178 MERIDIANA;, THE ADVENTURES OF 


themselves assailed by a large troop. The sudden attack 
surprised them, and, letting fly a shower of arrows and 
assagais, they retreated. Without losing a moment, the 
Colonel, Sir John, Emery, the bushman, and the sailors, 
never desisting from firing, darted among the group of 
natives, of whose bodies no less than fifteen soon strewed 
the ground, 2 | 

The Makololos divided. The Europeans rushed intothe p 
gap, and, overpowering the foremost, ascended the slope 
backwards. Ina few-minutes they had reached the summit, 
which was now entirely: in darkness, the besiege@ having 
suspended their fire for fear of injuring those who had 
come so opportunely to their aid. = 
_ They were the Russian astronomers. Strux, Palander, 
Zorn, and their five sailors, all were there: but of all the 
natives belonging to their caravan there remained but the 
faithful pioneer. The Bochjesmen had been as faithless to 
them as they had been to the English. ae 

The instant the Colonel appeared, Strux darted from 
the top of a low wall that crowned the summit. © ; 

“The English !” he cried. 

“Yes,” replied the Colonel gravely; “but now neither 
Russian nor English. Nationalities be forgotten ; for 
mutual defence we are kinsmen, in that we are one and all 
Europeans |” 
















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































a 












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































—([Page 178.] 


ians, 


SSI 


of the Ru 


The English come to the relief 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE’ RUSSIANS. 179 


CHAPTER XIX. 


SCIENCE UNDAUNTED. 


NOBLE words were those just uttered by the Colonel. In 
the face of the Makololos it was no time for hesitation or ’ 
discussion, and English and Russians, forgetting their 
national quarrel, were now re-united for mutual defence 
more firmly than ever. Emery and Zorn had warmly 
greeted each other, and the others had sealed their new 
alliance with a grasp of the hand. 

The first care of the English was to quench their thirst. 
Water, drawn from the lake, was plentiful in the Russian 
camp. Then, as soon as the Makololos were quiet enough 
to afford some respite, the astronomers, sheltered by a sort 
of casemate forming part of a-deserted fortress, talked of 
all that had happened since their separation at Kolobeng,. 

It appeared that the same reason had brought the 
Russians so far to the left of their meridian as had caused 
the English to turn to the right of theirs. _Mount Scorzef, : 
halfway between the two arcs, was te only height in that 

N 2 


180 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


district which would serve as a station on the banks of 
Lake Ngami. Each of the meridians crossed the lake, 
whose opposite shores it was necessary to unite trigono- 
metrically by alargetriangle. Naturally, therefore, the two 
rival expeditions met on the only mountain which could 
serve their purpose. : 

Matthew Strux then gave some details of his operations. 
After leaving Kolobeng, the Russian party had continued 
without irregularity. The old meridian, which had fallen 
by lot to the Russians, fell across a fertile and slightly 
undulated country, which offered every facility for the 
formation of the triangles. Like the English, they had 
suffered from the heat, but they had experienced no hardship 
from the want of water. Streams were abundant, and kept 
up a wholesome moisture. The horses and oxen had 
roamed over an immense pasturage, across verdant prairies 
broken by forests and underwood. The wild animals by 
night had been safely kept at a distance by sentinels and 
fires, nor had any natives been seen except those stationary 
in the villages in which Dr. Livingstone had always found 
a hospitable reception. All through the journey the Bochjes- 


men of the caravan had given no cause for complaint, nor 


was it until the previous day, when the Makololos to the — 


number of 200 or 300 had appeared on the plain, that they 
had shown themselves faithless, and deserted. For thirty- 


six hours the expedition had now occupied the little fortress, 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. I81 


The Makololos had attacked them in the evening, after 
plundering the waggons left at the foot of the hill. The | 
instruments fortunately, having been carried into the fort, 
were secure, The steamboat had also escaped the ravages 
of the natives ; it had been immediately put together by the 
sailors, and was now at anchor in a little creek of Lake 
Negami, behind the enormous rocks that formed the base 
of the mountain. Mount Scorzef sloped with sudden 
abruptness down to the lake, and there was no danger of 
an attack from that side. 

Such was Matthew Strux’s account. Colonel Everest, 
in his turn, related the incidents of his march, the fatigues 
and difficulties, and the revolt of the Bochjesmen, and it 
was found by comparison that the Russians had had a less 
harassing journey than their rivals. 

The night of the 21st passed: quietly. The bushman and _ 
‘sailors kept watch under the walls of the fort; the Makololos 
on their part did not renew any attack, but the bivouac-fires 
at the foot of the mountain proved that they had not 
relinquished their project. At daybreak the Europeans 
left their casemate. for the purpose of reconnoitring the 
plain. The early morning light illumined the vast extent 
of country as far as the horizon. ‘Towards the south lay | 
the desert, with its burnt brown grass and barren aspect. 
Close under the mountain was the circular camp, containing 


a swarm of 400 to 500 natives. The fires were still alight, 


182 MERIDIANA } THE ADVENTURES OF 


na 





——<$<—<<— 


‘and some pieces of venison broiling on the hot embers. 

The encampment was something more than temporary ; 

the Makololos were evidently determined not to abandon 

their prey. Either vengeance or an instinctive thirst for 

blood appeared to be prompting them, since all the valuables 

of both caravans, the waggons, horses, oxen, and provisions, 

-had fallen into their power; or perhaps it might be that 

they coveted the fire-arms which the Europeans carried, and 
of which they made such terrible use. The united English 

and Russians held a long consultation with the bushman, 

and it was felt that they could not relax their watch until 

they should arrive at a definite decision. This decision 

must depend on a variety of circumstances, and first of all 

it was necessary to understand exactly the position of 
Mount Scorzef. 

The mountain overlooked to the south, east, and west the 
vast desert which the astronomers, having traversed it, 
knew extended southwards to the karroo. In the west 
could be discerned the faint outlines of the hills bordering 
the fertile country of the Makololos, one of whose capitals, 
Maketo, lies about a hundred miles north-west of Lake 
-Ngami. To the north the mountain commanded a country 

which was a great contrast to the arid steppes of the south. 
‘There were water, trees, and pasturage. For a hundred 
miles east and west lay the wide Lake Ngami, while from 
north to south its length was not more than 30 to 4o miles. 


THREE: ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 183 . 


Beyond appeared a gentle, undulated country, enriched 
- with forests and watered by the affluents of the Zambesi, 
- and shut in to the extreme north by a low chain of moun- 

tains. This wide oasis was caused by the great artery, the 

Zambesi, which is to South Africa what the Danube is to 

Europe, or the Amazon to South America. 

The side of the mountain towards the lake, steep as it 
was, was not so steep but that the sailors could accomplish 
an ascent and descent by a narrow way which passed from — 
point to point. They thus contrived to reach the spot 
‘where the “Queen and Czar” lay hid, and, obtaining a 
supply of water, enabled: the little garrison to hold out in 
the deserted fort as long as their provisions lasted. 

The astronomers wondered why this little fort had been 
placed on the top of the mountain. Mokoum, who had 
visited the country as Livingstone’s guide, explained that 

_ formerly the neighbourhood of Lake Ngami was frequented 
by traders in ivory and ebony. ‘The ivory was furnished 
by the elephants and rhinoceroses; but the ebony trade | 
was but too often another name for that traffic in human 
beings which is still carried on by the slave-traders in the 
region of the Zambesi. A great numberof prisoners are made 
in the wars and pillages in the interior of the country, and 
these prisoners are sold as slaves. Mount Scorzef had been 

a centre of encampment for the ivory-traders, and it was 


there that they had been accustomed to rest before descend- 


184. MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


ing the Zambesi. They had fortified their position, to 
protect themselves and their slaves from depredations, since 
it was not an uncommon occurrence for the prisoners to be 
recaptured for fresh sale by the very men who had recently 
sold them. The route of the traders was now changed ; 


they no longer passed the shores of the lake, and the little 


fort. was falling into ruins. All that remained was an 
enclosure in the form‘of the sector of a circle, from the 
centre of which rose a small casemated redoubt, pierced 
with loop-holes, and surmounted by a small wooden 
turret. 7 

But notwithstanding the condition of ruin into which it 
had fallen, the fortress offered the Europeans a welcome 
retreat. Behind the thick sandstone walls, and armed with 
their rapidly-loading guns, they were confident that they 
could keep back an army of Makololos, and, unless their 
provisions and ammunition failed, they would be able to 
complete their observations. At present they had plenty 
of ammunition; the coffer in which it was contained had 
been placed on the same waggon which carried the steam- 
boat, and had therefore escaped the rapacity of the natives. 
The great difficulty would be the possible failure of provisions. 
The Colonel and Strux made a careful inspection of the 
store, and found that there was only enough to last the 
eighteen men for two days. After a short breakfast, the 
astronomers and the bushman, leaving the sailors still to 


° 


——_- 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 185 


keep watch round the walls, assembled in the redoubt to 
discuss their situation. 

“T cannot understand,” said Mokoum, “why you are so 
uneasy. You say that we have only provisions for two 
days; but why stay here?. Let us leave to-morrow, or 
even to-day. The Makololos need not hinder us; they 
could not cross the lake, and in the steamboat we may 
reach the northern shore ina few hours.” : 

The astronomers looked at each other ; the idea, natural 
as it was, had not struck them before. Sir John was the 
first to speak. 

“But we have not yet completed the measurement of our 
meridian.” 

“ Will the Makololos have any regard for your meridian ?” 
asked the hunter. 

“Very likely not,” answered Sir John; “but we have a 
regard for it, and will not leave our undertaking incomplete. 
I am sure my colleagues agree with me.” 

“Ves,” said the Colonel, speaking for all; “as long 
as one of us survives, and is able to put his eye to 
his telescope, the survey shall go on. If necessary, 
we will take our observations with our instrument in 
one hand-and our gun in the other, even to the last 
extremity.” 

The energetic philosophers shouted out.their resolution 
to proceed at every hazard. 


186 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF © 





When it was thus decided that the survey should at all 
risks be continued, the question arose as to the choice of 
the next station. | 

“ Although there will bea difficulty,” said Strux, “in - 
joining Mount Scorzef trigonometrically to a station to the 
north of the lake, it is not impracticable. I have fixed on a 
‘peak in the extreme north-east, so that the side of the 
triangle will cross the lake obliquely.” 

“Well,” said the Colonel, “if the peak exists, I do not 
see any difficulty.” | : 

“The only. difficulty,” replied Strux, “consists in the - 
distance.” 

“What is the distance ?” 

“Qver a hundred miles, and a lighted signal must be 
carried to the top of the peak.” 

“ Assuredly that can be done,” said the Colonel. 

“And all that time, how are we to defend ourselves 
against the Makololos?” asked the bushman. 

“We will manage that too.” 

Mokoum said that he would obey the Colonel’s orders, 
and the conversatiom ended. The whole party left the 
casemate, and Strux .pointed out the peak he had chosen. 
It was the conical peak of Volquiria, 300 feet high, and 
just visible in the horizon. Notwithstanding the distance, 
a powerful reflector could thence be discerned by means 


of a magnifying telescope, and the curvature of the 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 187 


earth’s surface, which Strux had taken into account, 
would not be any obstacle. The real difficulty was how 
the lamp should be hoisted to the top of the moun- 
tain. The angle made at Mount Scorzef with Mount . 
Volquiria and the preceding station would probably 
complete the measurement of the meridian, so that the 
operation was all important. Zorn and Emery offered 
‘to take this journey of a hundred miles in an unknown 
country, and, ‘accompanied by the pioneer, prepared to 
start. - 

One of the canoes of birch-bark, which are manufactured 
by the natives with great dexterity, would be sufficient to 
carry them over the lake. Mokoum and the pioneer 
descended to the shore, where were growing: some dwarf 
birches, and in a very short time had accomplished their 
task, and prepared the canoe. 

At eight o'clock in the evening the newly-constructed 
craft was loaded with instruments, the apparatus for the 
reverberator, provisions, arms, and ammunition. It was 
arranged that the astronomers should meet again in a small 
creek known to both Mokoum and the pioneer ; it was also 
agreed that as soon as the reverberator on Mount Volquiria 
should be perceived, Colonel Everest should light a signal 
on Mount Scorzef, so that Emery and Zorn, in their turn, 
might take the direction. 

The young men took leave of their colleagues, and 


188 MERIDIANA ; THE. ADVENTURES OF 


descended the mountain in the obscurity of night, having 
been preceded by the pioneer and two sailors, one English 
and one Russian. The mooring was loosened, and the 
frail boat turned quietly across the lake, 





































































































































































































































































































































































































ME ttre 


iis TERE. 
Magy ere 


eer s 















































On Guard on Mount Scorzef. —[Page 189.] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 189 


CHAPTER XX, 
STANDING A SIEGE, 


NoT without anxiety had the astronomers witnessed the 

departure of their young colleagues: they could not tell 
- what dangers awaited them in that unknown country. 
aa Mokoum tried to reassure them by praising the courage of 
the pioneer, and besides, he said, the Makololos were too 
much occupied around Mount Scorzef to beat the country 
to the north of Lake Ngami. He instinctively felt that 
the Colonel and his party were in a more dangerous 
position than the two young astronomers. 3 

The sailors and Mokoum kept watch in turns aroeee the 
night. But “the reptiles,” as the bushman termed the 
Makololos, did not venture another attack. They seemed to 
be waiting for reinforcements, in order to invade the 
mountain from all sides, and overcome by their numbers 
the resistance of the besieged. : 

The hunter was not mistaken in his conjectures ; and 
when daylight appeared Colonel Everest perceived a 


Igo MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


‘sensible increase in the number of the natives. Their camp, 
carefully arranged round the base of the mountain, shut off 
escape on every side except that towards the lake. This 
side could not be invested, so that unless unforeseen cir- 
cumstances occurred, retreat to the water was always prac- 
ticable. But the Europeans had no thought of escaping: 
they occupied a post of honour, .and were all agreed 
that it must not be abandoned. No allusion was ever 
made to the war between England and Russia, and both 
parties strove together to accomplish their scientific 
labour. . 
The interval of waiting for the signal on Mount Volquiria 
was employed in completing the measurement of the 
preceding triangle and in finding the exact latitude of 
Mount Scorzef by means of the altitudes of the stars. - 
Mokoum was called upon to say what would be the 
shortest possible space of time that must elapse before 
Emery and Zorn could reach Mount Volquiria. . He replied 
that as the journey was to be performed on foot, and the 
country was continually crossed by rivers, he did not think 
that they could arrive in less than five days atleast. They 
therefore adopted a maximum of six days, and portioned. 
out their supplies to serve for that period. Their reserve 
was very limited, consisting only of a few pounds of biscuit, 
preserved meat, and pemmican, and had already been dimi- 
nished by the portion furnished to the pioneer’s little troop. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. IgI 
Colonel Everest and his companions, anxiously anticipating 
the sixth day, decided that the daily ration must be reduced 
to a third of their previous allowance. The thirteen men 
would doubtless suffer much from this small amount of 
nourishment, but there was an unflinching determination to 
bear up bravely. 

a Besides,” said Sir John, “we have room enough to . 
~ hunt.” 3 } 

Mokoum shook his head -doubtfully: he thought 
that game would be rare on the mountain... However, 
his gun need not be idle, and leaving the astronomers 
to examine and correct their registers, he set off with Sir 
John. : | 

The Makololos were quietly encamped, and apparently 
patient in their intention of reducing the besieged by famine. 
The two hunters reconnoitred the mountain. The fort 
occupied a space of ground measuring not more than a 
quarter of a mile in its widest part. The soil was covered 
with flints and grass, dotted here and there with low shrubs, 
and bright with gladioli. Red heaths, silvery-leaved protez, 
and ericz with wavy fronds, formed the flora of the moun- 
tain, and beneath the angles formed by the projections of, 
rock sprung up thorny bushes ten feet high, with bunches 
of a sweet-smelling white flower. The bushman was igno- 
rant of its name, but it was doubtless the Arduzna bispinosa, 
which bears fruit like the barberry. 


192 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


After an hour’s search Sir John had seen no trace of 
game. Some little birds with dark wings and red‘ beaks 
flew out of the bushes, but at the first shot they disappeared, 
NOsmore to return. It was evident that the garrison must 
not depend on the products of the chase for sustenance. 

“We can fish in the lake,” said Sir John, standing and 
contemplating the fine extent of water. - 

“To fish without net or line,” replied the bushman, “is as 
difficult as to lay hands on birds on the wing. But we 
will not despair ; chance has hitherto favoured us.” 

“Chance! nay, not. chance, but Providence,” said Sir 
John. “That does not forsake us; it has brought us to 
the Russians, and will no doubt carry us on to our goal.” 

“And will Providence feed us, Sir John?” asked the . 
bushman. 7 : 

“No doubt, Mokoum,” said Sir John encouragingly ; 
and the bushman thought to himself that no blind trust in 
Providence should prevent him from using his own best 
. exertions. 

The 25th brought no change in the relative positions of 
besiegers and besieged. The Makololos, having brought 
in the plundered waggons, remained in their camp. Herds _ 

“and flocks were grazing in the pasturages at the foot of the 
mountain, and some women and children, who had joined 
the tribe, went about and pursued their ordinary occu-_ 
pations. From time to. time, some chief, recognizable by 













































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































An Attack on Mount Scorzef.—[Page 193.] 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 193 


the richness of the skins which he wore, ascended the slope 
of the mountain and tried to examine the approaches. to 
the summit; but the report of a rifle always took him 
speedily back to the plain. The Makololos then raised 
their war-cry, brandished their assagais, and all became 
quiet. ; . | 

The following day the natives made a more serious 
attempt, and about fifty of them at once scaled three sides 
of the mountain, The whole garrison turned out to the 
foot of the enclosure, and the European arms caused 
considerable ravage among the Makololos. Five or six 
were killed, and the rest abandoned their project, but it 
was quite evident that if several hundred were to assault 
the mountain simultaneously, the besieged would find it 
difficult to face them on all sides. Sir John now thought 
of the mitrailleuse, which was the principal weapon of the 
“Queen and Czar,” and proposed that it should be brought 
up to defend the front of the fortress. It was a difficult 
task to hoist the machine up the rocks, which in some 
parts were almost perpendicular; but the sailors showed 
themselves so agile and daring, that in the course of the 
day the mitrailleuse was installed in the embrasure of the 
embattled enclosure. Thence, its twenty-five muzzles, 
arranged in the shape of a fan, would cover the front of 
the fort, and the natives would thus early make acquaint- 
ance with the engine of death which in after-years was to 

O 


194 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


effect such devastation amongst the civilized armies of the 
European continent. 

The dry air and clear sky had enabled the astronomers 
each night to pursue their observations. They had found 
the latitude of Mount Scorzef to be 19°, 37’, which result 
confirmed their opinion that they were less than half a 
degree from the northern extremity of their meridian, and 
that consequently the next triangle would complete the 
series. . 

The night passed without any “Heck alarm. If circum- 
stances had favoured the pioneer, he and his companions 
would reach Mount Volquiria the following day, so that the 
astronomers kept unflagging watch through the next night — 
for the appearance of the light. Strux and the Colonel — 
had already pointed the telescope to the peak,-so that it — 
was continuously embraced in the field of the object-glass, 
otherwise it would have been difficult to discern on a dark 
night; as it was, the light would doubtless be eo ae 
immediately on its appearance. 

All day Sir John beat fruitlessly the bushes and ind 
grass. He could not unearth a single animal that was fit — 
to eat. The very birds, disturbed from their retreats, had 
gone to the underwood on the shore for shelter. Sir John | 
was extremely vexed, inasmuch as he was not hunting ~ 
merely for personal gratification, but to supply the neces- 
sities of the party. Perhaps he himself suffered from > 


“THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. I195 





hunger more than his three colleagues, whose attention 
was more riveted by their application to science. The 
sailors and Mokoum suffered equally with Sir John. One 
more day and their scanty reserve would be at an end, and 
if the pioneer’s expedition were delayed, they would soon ~ 
be exposed to a severe extremity of hunger, 

The dark, calm night was passed in watching; but the 
horizon remained wrapped in shade, and no light appeared’ 
in the object-glass of the telescope. The minimum of time, 
however, allowed to the expedition had hardly expired, 
and they felt that they were bound to exhibit patience for 
a while. 

The next day the garrison ate their last morsel of meat 
and biscuit; but their courage did not fail, and, though 
they should be obliged to feed on what herbs they could 
gather, they were resolved to hold out. 

The succeeding night passed without any result. More 
than once the astronomers believed that they had seen the: 
light, but it was always proved to be a star in the misty 
horizon. 

On the 1st of March they were compelled absolutely to 
fast. Having been for some time accustomed to meagre 
and inadequate nourishment, they passed the first day 
without much acute suffering, but on the morrow they 
began to experience the pangs of craving. Sir John and 
Mokoum, haggard-eyed, and sensitive to the gnawings of 

O 2 


190 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





hunger, wandered over the top of ‘the mountain ; but no 
game whatever was to be seen. They began to think that, 
as the Colonel had said, they should literally have to feed 
on grass. If they only had the stomachs of ruminants, 
thought poor Sir John, as he eyed the abundant: pasturage, 
they would be able to hold out; but still 10 game, still not 
even a bird! He gazed intently over the lake, in which 
the sailors had fished in vain ; and it was impossible to get 
near the wary aquatic birds that skimmed the tranquil 
waters. _ 

At last, worn out with fatigue, Sir John and his companion 
lay down on the grass at the foot of a mound of earth some 
five or six feet high. Here they fell, not precisely into a 
sleep, but into a heavy torpor, which for a while benumbed 
their sufferings. How longthis drowsiness would have lasted 
neither of them could have said; but in about an hour Sir 
John was aroused by a disagreeable pricking. He tried to 
slumber again, but the pricking continued, and at last 
impatiently he opened his eyes. 

He was entirely covered, face, hands, and clothes, with 
‘swarms of white ants. He started to his feet, and his sudden 
movement aroused the bushman, who was covered in the. 
same way. But to Sir John’s great surprise, the bushman, 
instead of shaking off the insects, carried them by handfuls 
to his mouth, and devoured them greedily. Sir John’s 
first sensation was disgust at his voracity. 


! 


















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Rice of the Bochjesmen, —[Page 196. | 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 197 


“Come, eat, do as I do!” said the bushman; “it is the 
‘ rice of the Bochjesmen.” | 

~ And that was, in truth, the native term. for these insects. 
The Bochjesmen feed on both the black and white species, 
but they consider the white to be of superior quality, The 
only drawback is, that they must be swallowed in. large 
quantities to satisfy any longing for food. The Africans 
generally mix them with the gum of the mimosa, thus ren- 
dering them capable of affording a less unsubstantial meal ; 
but as the mimosa did not grow on Mount Scorzef, the bush- 
man had to content himself with his rice au zaturel. 

Sir John, in spite of his repugnance, resolved to imitate 
him. The insects poured forth by thousands from their 
enormous ant-hill, which was none other than the mound of 
earth by which the weary sufferers had reclined. Sir John 
took them by handfuls, and carried them to his lips ; he did 
not dislike the flavour, which was a grateful acid; and 
gradually he felt his hunger moderated. 

Mokoum did not forget his companions in misfortune. 
He ran to the fort, and brought out the garrison. The 
sailors were without difficulty induced to attack the singular 
food, and although the astronomers hesitated a moment, 
yet, encouraged by Sir John’s example, and half dead with 
inanition, they soon at least assuaged the intenseness of 
their hunger by devouring considerable quantities of these 


ants. 


198 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


But an unexpected incident procured for the starving 
men a more solid meal. In order to lay in a provision of 
the insects, Mokoum resolved to destroy one side of the 
enormous ant-hill. It consisted of a central conical mound, 
with smaller cones arranged at intervals round its base. 
The hunter had already made several blows with his hatchet, 
when a singular grunting sound from the centre attracted 
his attention: he paused in his work of destruction, and 
listened, while his companions watched him insilence. He 
struck a few more blows, and the groan was‘repeated more 
audibly than before. The bushman rubbed his hands, 
whilst his eyes evidently sparkled. Once more attacking 
the ant-hill, he opened a cavity about a foot wide. The 
ants were escaping on every side; but of them he took 
no heed, leaving the sailors to collect them in sacks. 
All at once a strange animal appeared at the mouth 
of the hole. It was a quadruped with a long snout, 
small mouth, and flexible tongue, which. protruded to 
a great length; its ears were straight, its legs short, and 
its tail long and pointed. Long grey bristles with a 
reddish tinge covered its lank body, and its feet were 
‘armed with enormofis claws. Mokoum killed it’ at once 
with a sharp blow on the snout. “There is our supper,” 
he said. “It has been some time coming, but it will not 
taste the worse for that. Now fora fire, and a ramrod for 


a spit, and we will feast as we have never feasted in our lives,” 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 199 


The bushman speedily began to skin the animal, which 
was a species. of octeropus or ant-eater, very common 
~ in South Africa, and known to the Dutch at the Cape under 
the name of “earth-pig.” Swarms of ants are devoured 
by this creature, which catches them by means of its long 
glutinous tongue. 7 

The meal was soon cooked ; perhaps it would have been 
better for a few more turns of the spit, but the hungry men 
_ were impatient. The firm, wholesome flesh was declared 
to be excellent, although slightly impregnated with the 
acid of the ants | 

After the repast the Europeans felt re-invigorated, and 
animated with more steadfast purpose to persevere ; and 
in truth there was need of encouragement. All through 


the following night-no light appeared on Mount Volquiria. 


200 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





CHAPTER XXI. 
SUSPENSE. 


IT was now the ninth day since Zorn and Emery had 
started on their expedition. Their colleagues, detained on : 
the summit of Mount Scorzef, began to give way to the 
fear that they had fallen into some irretrievable misfortune. - 
They were all well aware that the young astronomers would 
omit nothing that lay in their power to ensure the success of 
their enterprise, and they dreaded lest their courageous spirit 
should have exposed them to danger, or betrayed them into 
the hands of the wandering tribes. They waited always. 
impatiently for the moment when the sun sank behind the 
horizon, that they might begin their nightly watch, and 
then all their hopes seemed concentrated on. the field of 
their telescope. 3 

All through the grd of March, wandering up and down 
the slopes, hardly exchanging a word, they suffered as they 
had never suffered before; not even the heat and fatigues 
of the desert, nor the tortures of thirst, had equalled the 
pain that arose from their apprehensions, The last morsel 


a” 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 201 


of the ant-eater had been devoured, and nothing now 
remained but the insufficient nourishment afforded by the 
ants, | | 

Night came, dark and calm, and extremely favourable 
to their operations ; but although the Colonel and Strux 
watched alternately with the utmost perseverance, no light 
appeared, and the sun’s rays soon rendered any longer 
observations futile. 

There was still nothing immediate to fear from the 
Makololos; they seemed resolved to reduce the besieged 
by famine, and it seemed hardly likely that they would 
desist from their project. The unhappy Europeans were 
tortured afresh with hunger, and could only diminish their 
sufferings by devouring the bulbs of the gladioli that sprang 
up between the rocks. 

Yet they were hardly prisoners; their detention was 
voluntary. At any moment the steamboat would have 
carried them to a fertile land, where game and fruitabounded. 
Several times they discussed the propriety of sending 
Mokoum to the northern shore to hunt for the little garrison; 
but this manceuvre might be discovered by the natives; 
and there would bea risk to the steam-vessel, and conse- 
quently to the whole party, in the event of finding other 
hostile tribes to the north of the lake: accordingly the 
proposal was rejected, and it was,decided that they must 
abide in company, and that all or none must depart. To 


202 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


leave Mount Scorzef before the observations were complete 
was an idea that was not entertained for a moment; the 
astronomers were determined to wait patiently until the 
faintest hope of success should be extinguished. 

“We are no worse off,” remarked the Colonel in the 
course of the day to his assembled companions, “than 
Arago, Biot, and Rodriguez were when they were measuring 
‘the arc from Dunkirk to Ivica: they were uniting the 
Spanish coast and the island by a triangle of which the © 
sides were more than eighty miles long. Rodriguez was 
installed on an isolated peak, and kept up lighted lamps 
at night, while the French astronomers lived in tents a 
hundred miles away in the desert of Las Palmas. For 
sixty nights Arago and Biot watched for the signal, and,- 
discouraged at last, were aboutsto renounce their labour, 
_ when, on the sixty-first night, appeared a light, which it was 
impossible to confound with a star. Surely, gentlemen, if 
those French astronomers could watch for sixty-one nights — 
in the interests of science, we English and Russians must 
not give up at the end of nine.” 

The Colonel’s companions most heartily approved the 
sentiment ; but they could have said that Arago and Biot 
did not endure the tortures of hunger during their long 
vigil. . 

In the course of the day Mokoum perceived an unusual. 
agitation in the Makololo camp. He thought at first that 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 203 


they were about to raise the siege, but, after some contem- 
plation, he discovered that their intentions were evidently 
_ hostile, and that they would probably assault the mountain 
in the course of the night. All the women and children, 
under the protection of a few men, left the encampment, 
and turned eastward to the shores of the lake. It was 
probable that the natives were about to make a last attack 
on the fortress before retiring finally to Maketo. The 
bushman communicated his opinion to the Europeans. They 
resolved to keep a closer watch all night, and to have their 
euns in readiness, The enclosure of the fort was broken in 
several places, and as the number of the natives was now 
largely increased they would find no difficulty in forcing 
their way through the gaps. Colonel Everest therefore 
thought it prudent to have the steamboat in readiness for a 
retreat. The engineer received orders to light the fire, but 
not until sunset, lest the smoke should reveal the presence of 
the vessel to the natives ; and to keep up the steam, in order 
to start at the first signal. The evening repast was com- 
posed of white ants and gladiolus bulbs—a meagre supper 
for men about to fight with several hundred savages; but 
they -were resolute, and staunchly awaited the engagement 
which appeared imminent. .. : 

Towards six o’clock, when night was coming on with its 
tropical celerity, the engineer descended the mountain, 
and proceeded to light the fire of the steamboat. It was 


204. MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


still the Colonel’s intention not to effect an escape until 
the last extremity : moreover, he was firm in his determina- 
tion to abide until the night was advanced, that he might 
give himself the last chance of observing the signal from 
Mount Volquiria. The sailors were placed at the foot of 
the rampart, with orders to defend the breaches to the last. 
All arms were ready, and the mitrailleuse, armed with the 
heaviest ammunition that they had in store, spread its 
formidable mouth across the embrasure. . 

For several hours the Colonel and Strux, posted in thenar- 
row donjon, kept a constant watch on the peak of Volquiria. ~ 
The horizon was dark, while the finest of the southern con- 
stellations were resplendent in the zenith. There was no 
wind, and not a sound broke the imposing stillness of 
nature. The bushman, however, posted on a projection of © 
rock, heard sounds which gradually became more distinct. 
He was not mistaken ; the Makololos were at length com- 
mencing their assault on the mountain. 

Until ten o’clock the assailants did not move; their fires 
were extinguished, and camp and plain were alike wrapped 
in obscurity. Suddenly Mokoum saw shadows moving up 
the mountain, till the besiegers seemed but a few hundred : 
feet from the plateau on which stood the fort. 

“Now then, quick and ready!” cried Mokoum, 

The garrison immediately advanced to the south side of 
the fort, and opened a running fire on the assailants. The 


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Watching for the Signal from Mount Volquiria,—[Page 204.] 


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THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 205 





Makololos answered by a war-cry, and, in spite of the firing, 
continued to advance. In the light caused: by the flash of the 
~. guns, the Europeans perceived such swarms of natives that 
resistance seemed impossible. But still they trusted that 
their well-directed balls were doing considerable execution, 
and they discerned that not a few of the natives were rolling 
down the sides of the mountain. Hitherto, however, no- 
thing arrested them: withsavagecries they continued to press 
on in compacted order, without even waiting to hurl a single 
dart. Colonel Everest put himself at the head of his little 
troop, who seconded him admirably, not excepting Palander, 
who probably was handling a gun for almost the first’ time. 
Sir John, now on one rock now on another, sometimes kneel- 
ing sometimes lying, did wonders, and his gun, heated with 
the rapidity of the repeated loading, began to burn his 
-hands. Mokoum, as ever, was patient, bold, and undaunted 
in his confidence. . 

But the valour and precision of the besieged could avail 
nothing against the torrent of numbers. Where one native 
fell, he was replaced by twenty more, and, after a some- 
what prolonged opposition, Colonel Everest felt that he 
must be overpowered. Not only did the natives swarm 
up the south slope of the mountain, but they made an ascent 
also by the side slopes. They did not hesitate to use the 
dead bodies of the fallen as stepping-stones, and they even 
lifted them up, and sheltered themselves behind them, 


206 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 

RRP ee ban SOR Nb eine ed aint, et ome OR uel Sak Dee a 
as they mounted. The scene revealed by the flash of the: 
fire-arms was appalling, and the Europeans saw enough to 
make them fully aware that they could expect no quarter, 
and that they were being assaulted by barbarians as savage 
as tigers. 

At half-past ten the foremost natives had reached the 
plateau. The besieged, who were still uninjured (the natives 
- not yet having “employed their arrows and assagais), were 
thoroughly conscious they were impotent to carry on a 
combat hand to hand. The Colonel, in a calm, clear voice 
that could be heard above the tumult, gave the order to 
retire. With a last discharge the little band withdrew 
behind the walls. Loud cries greeted their retreat, and the 
natives immediately made a nearer approach in their 
attempt to scale the central breach. 

A strange and unlooked for reception awaited them. 
Suddenly at first, and subsequently repeated at intervals 
but of a few minutes, there was a growling reverberation 
as of rolling thunder. The sinister sound was the report of 
the exploding mitrailleuse, which Sir John had been 
prepared to employ, and now worked with all his energy. 
Its twenty-five muzzles spread over a wide range, and the 
balls, continually supplied by a self-adjusting arrangement, 
fell like hail among the assailants. The natives, swept 
down at each discharge, responded at first with a howl and 
then with a harmless shower of arrows. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 207 





“ She plays well,’ said the bushman, approaching Sir 
John.. “When you have played your tune, let me play 
* mine.” . 

But there was no need for Sir John to be relieved ; the 
mitrailleuse was soon silent.. The Makololos were struck 
with consternation, and had sought shelter from the torrent 
of grape-shot, having retired under the flanks of the fort, 
leaving the plateau strewn with numbers of their dead. 

_In this instant of respite the Colonel and Strux regained 
the donjon, and there, collecting themselves to a composure 
as complete as if they were under the dome of an obser- 
vatory, they kept a constant eye upon their telescope, and 
scanned the peak of Volquiria. When, after a short period 
of rest, the yells of the Makololos made them aware that 
the combat was renewed, they only persevered in their 
determination, and resolved that they. would alternately 
remain to guard their invaluable instrument. 

The combat, in truth, had been renewed, The range of 
the mitrailleuse was inadequate to reach all the natives, 
who, uttering their cries of mortal vengeance, rallied again, 
and swarmed up every opening. The besieged, protected — 
by their fire-arms, defended the breaches foot by foot ; they 
had only received a few scratches from the points of the 
assagais, and were able to continue the fight for half an hour 
with unabated ardour. : 

Towards half-past eleven, while the Colonel was in the 


208 MERIDIANA } THE ADVENTURES OF | 


thick of the fray, in the middle of an angry fusillade, Matthew 
Strux appeared at his side. His. eye was wild and 
radiant : an arrow had just pierced his hat and quivered. 
above his head. 

“The signal! the signal!” he cried. 

The Colonel was incredulous, but ascertaining the cor- 
rectness of the welcome announcement, discharged his 
rifle for the last time, and with an exuberant shout of 
rejoicing, rushed towards the donjon, followed by his intrepid 
colleague. There, kneeling down, he placed his eye to the 
telescope, and perceived with the utmost delight the signal, : 
so long delayed and yet so patiently expected. 

It was truly a marvellous sight to see these two astro- 
nomers work during the tumult of the conflict. The natives 
had by their numbers forced the enclosure, and Sir John 
and the bushman were contending for every step. The. 
Europeans fought with their balls and hatchets, while the 
-Makololos responded with their arrows and assagais. © : 

Meanwhile the Colonel and Strux intently continued 
their observations, and Palander, equally composed, noted 
down their oft-repeated readings. More than once an arrow 
grazed their head, and broke against the inner wall.of the. 
donjon. But their eye was ever fixed on the signal, and 
reading the indications of the vernier, they incessantly 
verified each other’s calculations, 

“ Only once more,” said Strux, sliding the telescope along 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 209 


the graduated scale. An instant later, and it would have 
been too late for any observations, but the direction of the 
light was calculated to the minutest fraction of a second ; 
and at that very instant an enormous stone, hurled by a 
native, sent the register flying from Palander’s hands, and- 
smashed the repeating-circle. 

' They must now fly in order to save the result which they 
had obtained at the cost of such continuous labour. The 
natives had already penetrated the casemate, and might at 
any moment appear in the donjon. The Colonel and his 
colleagues caught up their guns, and Palander +his precious 
register, and all escaped through one of the breaches. Their 
companions, some slightly wounded, were ready to cover 
their retreat, but just as they were about to descend the 
north side of the mountain, Strux remembered that they had 
failed to kindle the signal. In fact, for the completion ot 
the survey, it was necessary that the two astronomers on 
Mount Volquiria should in their turn observe the summit 
of Mount Scorzef, and were doubtless anxiously expecting 
the answering light. 

The Colonel recognized the imperative necessity for yet 
one more effort, and whilst his companions, with almost 
superhuman energy, repulsed the natives, he re-entered the 
donjon. This donjon was formed of an intricate framework | 
of dry wood, which would readily ignite by the application 
of a fiame. The Colonel set it alight with the powder from 

Pe 


210 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES. OF 





the priming of his gun, and, rushing out, rejoined his 
companions. In a few moments, rolling their mitrailleuse 
‘ before them, the Europeans, under a shower of arrows and 
various missiles, were descending the mountain, and, in their 
turn, driving back the natives with a deadly fire, reached the 
steamboat. The engineer, according to orders, had kept 
up the steam. The mooring was loosened, the screw set in 
motion, and the “ Queen and Czar” advanced rapidly over 
the dark waters. They were shortly far enough out to see 
the summit of the mountain. The donjon was blazing like 
a beacon, and its light would be easily discerned from the 
peak of Volquiria. A resounding cheer of triumph from 
English and Russians greeted the bonfire they had left 
behind. 

Emery and Zorn would have no cause for complaint ; 
they had exhibited the twinkling of a star, and had been 
answered by the glowing of a sun. 






































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































” 


Comm - 
Pat, ae. 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 211 _ 








CHAPTER XXII. 
HIDE AND SEEK. 


WHEN daylight re-appeared, the vessel was nearing the 
northern shore of the lake. There was no trace of natives, 
consequently the Colonel and his companions, who had 
been ready armed, laid aside their guns as the “ Queen and 
Czar” drew up in a little bay hollowed in the rocks. The 
bushman, Sir John, and one of the sailors set out at once 
to reconnoitre the neighbourhood. They could perceive no 
sign of Makololos, and fortunately they found game in 
abundance. Troops of antelopes grazed in the long grass 
and in the shelter of the thickets, and a number of aquatic 
birds frequented the shores of the lake. The hunters 
returned with ample provision, and the whole party could 
enjoy the savoury venison, a supply of which was now 
unlikely to fail them again. 

The camp was arranged under the great willows near the 
lake, on the banks of a small river. The Colonel and Strux > 
had arranged to meet on the northern shore with the 
- pioneer’s little party, and the rest. afforded by the few days 
P 2 


212 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


of expectation was gratefully enjoyed by all. Palander 
. employed himself in rectifying and adjusting the results of 
the latest observations, while Mokoum and Sir John hunted 
most vigorously over the fertile, well-watered country, 
abounding in game, of which the Englishman would have 
been delighted, had it been in his power, to complete a 
purchase on behalf of the British government. Three days. 
after, on the 8th of March, some gun-shots announced the 
arrival of the remainder of the party for whom they 
tarried. Emery, Zorn, the two sailors, and the pioneer, 
were all in perfect health. Their theodolite, the only 
instrument remaining to the Commission, was safe. The 
young astronomers and their companions were received 
with joyous congratulations. Ina few words they related 
that their journey had not been devoid of difficulty. For — 
two days they had lost their way in the forests that skirted 
the mountainous district, and with only the vague indica- 
tions of the compass they would never have reached Mount. 
Volquiria, if it had not been for the shrewd intelligence of the 
pioneer. The ascent of the mountain was rough, and the 
delay had caused the young astronomers‘as much impa- : 
-tience as it had their colleagues on Mount Scorzef. They — 
had carefully, by barometrical observations, calculated that 
the summit of Volquiria was 3200 feet above the level of 
the sea. The light, increased by a strong reflector, was first 
lighted on the night of the 4th; thus the observers on 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS, 213 


Mount Scorzef had perceived it as soon as it appeared. 
Emery and Zorn had easily discerned the intense fire caused 
by the burning fortress, and with the theodolite had com- 
; pleted the measurement of the triangle. 

“ And did you determine the latitude of the peak ?” said 
the Colonel to Emery. 

“Yes, most accurately,” replied pee “we found it to 
DE 19° 37’ 35.337°-" 3 

“Well, gentlemen,” said the Colonel; “ we may say that 
our task is ended. We have measured, by means of sixty< 
three triangles, an arc of more than eight degrees in length ; 
and when we have rigidly corrected our results, we shall 
know the exact value of the degree, and Soa ae of 
the metre, in this part of the globe.” 

A cheer of satisfaction could not be repressed amongst 
the others. | 

“ And now,” added the Colonel, “we have only to descend 
the Zambesi in order to reach the Indian Ocean: is it not 
so, Mr Strux ?” ; 

“Tt is so,” answered Strux ; “but I think we ought still to 
adopt some means of testing our previous operations. _ Let 
us continue our triangles until we find a place suitable 
for the direct measurement of a base. The agreement 
between the lengths of the base, obtained by the calculations © 
and by the direct measurement, will alone tell what degree 
_of accuracy we ought to attribute to our observations.” 


¢ 


214 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





Strux’s proposition was unanimously adopted. It was 
agreed to construct a series of subsidiary triangles until a 
side could be measured with the platinum rods. The steam- 
boat, descending the affluents of the Zambesi, was to await 
the travellers below the celebrated Victoria Falls. Every 
thing being arranged, the little troop, with the exception of 
four sailors on board the “Queen and Czar,” started the next. 
day at sunrise. Some stations had been chosen to the east 
and the angles measured, and along this favourable country, 
they hoped easily to accomplish their auxiliary series. The 
bushman had adroitly caught a quagga, of which, willing or 
unwilling, he made a beast of burden to carry the theodo- 
lite, the measuring-rods, and some other luggage of the 
caravan. 3 

The journey proceeded rapidly. The undulated country 
afforded many points of sight for the small accessory trian- 
gles. The weather was fine, and it was not needful to 
have recourse to nocturnal observations. The travellers 
could nearly always find shelter in the woods, and, besides, 
the heat was not insufferable, since some vapours arose 
from the pools and streams which tempered the sun’s rays. 
Every want was supplied by the hunters, and there was no | 
longer any thing to be feared from the natives, who seemed 
to be more to the south of Lake Ngami. ; 

Matthew Strux and the Colonel seemed to have Forooteen 
all their personal rivalry, and although there was.no close 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 215 





intimacy between them, they. were on the most perfect 
terms of courtesy. 

Day after day, during a period of three weeks, the 
observations steadily proceeded. For the measurement of 
a base the astronomers required a tract of land that should 
be level for several miles, and the very undulations of the 
soil that were desirable for the establishment of the points 
of sight were unfavourable for that observation. They 
proceeded to the north-east, sometimes following the right 
bank of the Cnobi, one of the principal tributaries of the 
Upper Zambesi, in order to avoid Maketo, the chief settle- 
ment of the Makololos. They had now every reason to 
anticipate that their return would be happily accomplished, 
and that no further natural obstacle would occur, and they 
hoped that their difficulties were allatan end. The country 
which they were traversing was comparatively well known _ 
and they could not be far from the villages of the Zambesi 
which Livingstone had lately visited. They thus thought 
with reason that all the most arduous part of their task was 
over, when an incident, of which the consequences might 
have been serious, almost compromised the result of the 
whole expedition. bs 

Nicholas Palander was the hero, or rather was nearly 
being the victim, of the adventure. 

The intrepid but thoughtless calculator, aiereed by his 
escape from the crocodiles, had still the habit of withdraw- 


216  MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF : 


ing himself from his companions. In an open country } 
there was no great danger in this, but in woods Palander’s | 
abstraction might lead to serious consequences. Strux and 
the bushman gave him many warnings, and Palander, — 
though much astonished at what he considered an excess of 
prudence, promised to conform to their wishes. « 

On the 24th, some hours had passed since Strux and 
Mokoum had seen any thing of Palander. The little 
troop were travelling through thickets of low trees: and 
shrubs, extending as far as the horizon. It was important 
to keep together, as it would be difficult to discover the — 
track of any one lost in the wood. But seeing and fearing 
nothing, Palander, who had been posted, pencil in one hand, _ 
the register in the other, on the left flank of the troop, was 3 
not long in disappearing. 

When, towards four o'clock, Strux and his companions 
found that Palander was no longer with them, they-became- 
extremely anxious. His former aberrations were still fresh 
in their remembrance, and it was probably the ae 
calculator alone by whom they had been forgotten. Thea 
march was stopped, and they all shouted in vain. The 
bushman and the sailors dispersed for a quarter of a mile 
in each direction, beating the bushes, trampling through ~ 
the woods and long grass, firing off their guns, but yet ! 
without success. They became still more uneasy, especially 
- Matthew Strux, to whose anxiety was joined an extreme 




























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Palander robbed by the Chacma, —[Page 2072) 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 217 


irritation against his unlucky colleague. This was not the 

_ first time that Palander had served them thus, and if the 
Colonel had laid any blame on him, Strux would not have 
known what to say. Under the circumstances, the only 
thing to be done was to encamp in the wood, and begin 
a more careful search. 

The Colonel and his companions had just arranged to. 
place their camp near a glade of considerable extent, when 
a cry, unlike any thing human, resounded at some distance 
to the left. Almost immediately, running at full speed, 
appeared Palander. His head was bare, his hair dishevelled, 
and his clothes torn in some parts almost to rags. His 
companions plied him with questions : but the unhappy 
man, with haggard and distended eye, whose compressed 
nostrils still further hindered his short jerking respiration, 
could not bring out a word. 

What had happened ? why had he wandered away ? and 
why did he appear so terrified? At last, to their repeated 
questions, he gasped out, in almost unintelligible accents, 
something about the registers. 

The astronomers shuddered ; the registers, on which was 
inscribed every result of their operations, and which the 
calculator had never allowed out of his possession, even when ~ 

- asleep, these registers were missing. No matter whether 
Palander had lost them, or whether they had been stolen ° 
from him ; they were gone, and all their labour was in vain! 


218 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 





While his companions, mutely terrified, only looked at 
each other, Matthew Strux could no’longer restrain his 
anger. He burst forth into all manner of invective against 
the miserable man, threatening him with the displeasure of 
the Russian government, and adding, that if he did not 
suffer under the knout he should linger out his life in 
Siberia. , 

To all this Palander answered but by a movement of the 
head : he seemed to acquiesce in all these condemnations, 
and even thought the judgment would be too lenient. 

“But perhaps he has been robbed,” said the Colonel at 
last. | 

“What matters?” cried Strux, beside himself; “what 
business had he so far away from us, after our continual 
warning ?” : 

_ “True,” replied Sir John, “ but we ought to know whether 
he has lost the registers or been robbed of them. Has any 
one robbed you, Palander ?” continued he, turning to the 
poor man, who had sunk down with fatigue. . 

Palander made a sign of affirmation. 

“Who ?” continued Sir John.” Natives? Makololos ?” 

Palander shook his head. 

“Well, then, Europeans?” asked Sir John. 

“No,” answered Palander in a stifled voice. 

“Who then ?” shouted Strux, shaking his clenched fists 
in Palander’s face. 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 210 


“They were neither natives—nor white men—but 
monkeys,” stammered out Palander at last. 

It was a fact that the unhappy man had been robbed by 
a monkey, and if the consequences of the incident had been 
less serious, the whole party would have broken out into 
laughter. Mokoum explained that what had just happened - 
was of frequent occurrence. Many times, to his knowledge, 
had travellers been rifled by these pig-headed chacmas, a 
species of baboon very common in South African forests. 
The calculator had been plundered by these animals, though 
not without a struggle, as his ragged garments testified. 
Still, in the judgment of his companions, there was no 
excuse to be made: if he had remained in his proper place 
this irreparable loss would not have occurred. 

“We did not take the trouble,” began Colonel Everest, 
“to measure an arc of meridian in South Africa for a 
blunderer like you—” 

He did not finish his sentence, conscious that it was 
useless to continue to abuse the unhappy man, whom 
Strux had not ceased to load with every variety of vitupera- 
tion. The Europeans were, without exception, quite over- 
powered by emotion ; but Mokoum, who was less sensitive 
to the importance of the loss, retained his self-possession. _ 

“ Perhaps even yet,” he said, “something may be done 
to assist you in your perplexity. These chacmas are always 
careful of their stolen goods, and if we find the. robber we 


220 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 


shall find the registers with him. But time is precious, and 
none must be lost.” 

The ‘bushman had opened a ray of hope. Palander 
revived at the suggestion : he arranged his tattered clothes 
as best he could, and having accepted the jacket of one 
sailor and the hat of another, declared himself ready to 
lead his companions to the scene of his adventure. | 

They all started off towards the west, and. passed the 
night and the ensuing day without any favourable result. 
In many places, by traces on the ground and the bark of 
the trees, the bushman and the pioneer recognized unmis- 
takable vestiges of the baboons, of which Palander affirmed 
that he was sure he had seen no less than ten. The party 
was soon on their track, and advanced with the utmost 
precaution, the bushman affirming that he could only count 
on success in his search by taking the chacmas by surprise, 
since they were sagacious animals, such as could only be 
approached by some device of secrecy. 

Early the following morning one of the Russian sailors, 
who was somewhat in front, perceived, if not the actual 
thief, yet one of its associates. He prudently returned to 
the little troop, who came at once to a halt. The Euro- 
-peans, who had resolved to obey Mokoum in every thing, 
awaited his instructions. The bushman begged them to 
remain in quietness where they were, and, taking Sir John 
and the pioneer, turned towards the part of the wood 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 221 


_ already visited ig the sailor, carefully keeping under ahielees 
of the trees and bushwood. ’ 

In a short time the bushman and his two companions 
caught sight of one chacma, and almost immediately of 
nine or ten more, gambolling among the branches. Crouch- 
ing behind a tree, they attentively watched the animals, 
Their long tails were continually sweeping the ground, and 
their powerful muscles, sharp teeth, and pointed claws, 
rendered them formidable even to the beasts of prey. 
These chacmas are the terror of the Boers, whose fields of 
corn and maize, and occasionally whose habitations, are 
plundered by them. 

Not one of the animals had as yet espied the hunters. 
but they all continued their sport, yelping and barking as 
though they were great ill-favoured dogs. The important 
point for determination was, whether the actual purloiner 
of the missing documents was there. All doubt was put 
aside when the pioneer pointed out a chacma wrapped in a 
rag of Palander’s coat. Sir John felt that this creature 
must be secured at any price, but he was obliged to act 
with great circumspection, aware as he was that a single 
false movement would cause the whole herd to decamp at 
once. rea! 

“Stay here,” said Mokoum to the pioneer; “Sir John 
and I will return to our companions, and set about surround- 


ing the animals; but meanwhile do not lose sight of them. 


222 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





The pioneer remained at his post, while Sir John and 
the bushman returned to Colonel Everest. The only 
means of securing the suspected culprit was to surround 
the whole troop. To accomplish this, the Europeans 
divided into separate detachments ; one composed of Strux, 
Emery, Zorn, and three sailors, was to join the pioneer, 
and to form a semicircle around him; and the other, 
comprising the Colonel, Mokoum, Sir John, Palander, and 
the other three sailors, made a déour to the left, in order 
to fall back upon the herd from the other side | 

Implicitly following the bushman’s advice, they all ad- 
vanced with the utmost caution. Their guns were ready, 
and it was agreed that the chacma with the rags should 
be the aim for every shot. 

Mokoum kept a watchful eye upon Palander, and insisted 
upon his marching close to himself, lest his unguardedness 
should betray him into some fresh folly. The worthy 
astronomer was almost beside himself in consternation at 
his loss, and evidently thought it a question of life or death. 

After marching with the frequent halts which the policy 
of being unobserved suggested, and continuing to diverge 
“for half an hour, the bushman considered that they might _ 
now fall back. He and his companions, each about twenty 
paces apart, advanced like a troop of Pawnies on a war-trail, 
without a word or gesture, avoiding even the least rustling 
in the branches. Suddenly the bushman stopped ; the rest 
instantly followed his example, and standing with their 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 223 





finger on the lock of their guns, were ready to raise them to 
their shoulder, The band of chacmas was in sight, they _ 
were already sensible of some danger, and seemed on the 
look-out. The great animal which had stolen the regis- 
ters had, to their fancy, an appearance of being espe- 
cially agitated. It had been already recognized by 
Palander, who muttered something like an imprecation 
between his teeth. : 

. The chacma looked as if it was making signs to its com- 
panions : some females, with their young ones on their shoul- 
ders, had collected in a group, and the males went to and 
fro around them. The hunters still drew on, one and all 
keeping a steady eye direct towards the ostensible thief. 
All at once, by an involuntary movement, Palander’s gun 
went off in his hands. Sir John broke out into an exclama- 
tion of disgust, and instantly afterwards fired. Ten reports 
followed: three chacmas lay dead on the ground, and the 
rest, with a prodigious bound, passed over the hunters’ heads. 

The robber baboon alone remained : it darted at the trunk’ 
of a sycamore, which it climbed with an amazing agility, 
and disappeared among the branches. The bushman, having 
keenly surveyed the spot, asserted that the registers were 
there concealed, and fearing lest the chacma should escape 
across the trees, he calmly aimed and fired. The animal, 
wounded in the leg, fell from branch to branch. In one of 
its fore-claws it was seen to clutch the registers, which it 
had taken from a fork of the tree. 


224 MERIDIANA ; THE ADVENTURES OF 





At the sight, Palander, with a leap like a chamois, darted 
at the chacma, and a tremendous struggle ensued. The 
cries of both man and beast mingled in harsh and discordant 
strain, and the hunters dared not take aim at the chacma for 
fear of wounding their comrade. Strux, beside himself with 
rage, shouted again and again that they should fire, and in 
his furious agitation he would probably have done so, if it 
had not been that he was accidentally without a cartridge 
for his gun, which had been already discharged. 

The combat continued ; sometimes Palander, sometimes 
the chacma, wasuppermost. The astronomer, his shoulders 
lacerated by the creature’s claws, tried to strangle his — 
adversary. At last the bushman, seizing a favourable 
moment, made a sudden dash, and killed the ape with one 
blow of his hatchet. 

Nicholas Palander, bleeding, exhausted, and insensible, 
was picked up by his colleagues: in his last effort he had 
recaptured his registers, which he was found unconsciously 
grasping to his bosom. 

The carcase of the chacma was conveyed with glee to 
the camp. At the evening repast it furnished a delicious 
meal to the hunters. To all of them, but especially to 
Palander, not only had the excitement of the chase quick- 
ened their appetite for the palatable dish, but the relish was 
heightened by the gratifying knowledge that vengeance was 
satisfied. | 





Palander’s Combat with the Chacma,—[Page 224. } 


Se yy ASS She, Whe ree 


. i 


We. 





THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. ‘225 


eR eee 
od 


CHAPTER XXIIL 
HOMEWARD BOUND. 


PALANDER’S wounds were not serious : the bushman dressed 
the contused limbs with herbs, and the worthy astronomer, 
sustained by. his triumph, was soon able to travel. Any 
exuberance on his part, however, was of short duration, and 
he quickly became again engrossed in his world of figures. 
He only now retained one of the registers, because it had 
been thought prudent that Emery should take possession of 
the other. Under the circumstances, Palander made the 
surrender with entire good-humour. 

The operation of seeking a plain suitable for a base was 
now resumed, On the rst of April the march was some- 
what retarded by wide marshes; to these succeeded 
numerous pools, whose waters spread a pestilential odour ; 
but, by forming larger triangles, Colonel Everest and his 
companions soon escaped the unhealthy region. 

Thewhole party were in excellent spirits. Zorn and Emery 


Q 


2.26 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


often congratulated themselves on the apparent concord 
that existed between their chiefs. Zorn one day expressed 
his hope to his friend that when they returned to Europe 
they would find that peace had been concluded ‘between 
England and Russia, so that they might remain as good 
friends as they had been in Africa. 

Emery replied that he acquiesced entirely in the hope: 
in days when war is seldom long protracted they might be 
sanguine all would be terminated by the date of their 
return. | 3 | 

Zorn had already understood from Emery that it was 
not his intention to return immediately to the Cape, and 
expressed his hope that he might introduce him to the 
observatory at Kiew. This proposal Emery expressed his 
desire to embrace, and added that he should indulge the 
expectation that Zorn would at some future time visit the 
Cape. 

With these mutual assignations they made their plans 
for future astronomical researches, ever reiterating their 
hopes that the war would be at an end. 

“ Anyhow,” observed Emery, “Russia and England will 
be at peace before the Colonel and Strux; I have no trust 
in any reconciliation of theirs. | 

For themselves, they could only repeat their pledges of 
mutual good-will. 


Eleven days after the adventure with the chacmas, the 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 227 





little troop, not far from the Zambesi Falls, arrived at a 
level plain several miles in extent, and perfectly adapted 
_for the establishment of a base. On the edge of the plain 
rose a native village, composed of a few huts containing a 
small number of inhabitants, who kindly received the 
Europeans. Colonel Everest found the proximity of the 
natives very opportune, since the measurement of the base 
would occupy a month, and being without waggons, or any © 
materials for an encampment, he would have had no resource 
but to pass the time in the open air, with no other shelter 
than that afforded by the foliage. 

The astronomers took up their abode in the huts, which 
were quickly appropriated for the use of their new occupants. 
Their requirements were but small; their one thought was 
directed towards verifying their calculations by measuring 
the last side of their last triangle. 

The astronomers at once proceeded to their work. The 
trestles and platinum rods were arranged with all the care 
that had been applied to the earliest base. Nothing was 
neglected ; all the conditions of the atmosphere, and the 
variations of the thermometer, were taken into account, and 
the Commission, without flagging, brought every energy to 
bear upon their final operation. 

The work, which lasted for five weeks, was completed on 
the 15th of May. When the lengths obtained had been 
estimated and reduced to the mean level of the sea at the 

Q 2 


2.28 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


temperature of 61° Fahrenheit, Palander and Emery pre- 
sented to their colleagues the following numbers :— 


Toises. 

New base actually measured. ; ; ‘ » 5075.25 
The same base deduced trigonometrically from 

the entire series . ; ‘ : : » 5075.11 
Difference between the calculation and the obser- 

Vation. (2 : ; ; : : . - 14 


Thus there was only a difference of less than + of a toise 
that is to say, less than ten inches; yet the first base and 
the last were six hundred miles apart. 

When the meridian of France was measured from Dunkirk 
to Perpignan, the difference between the base at Melun and 
that at Perpignan was eleven inches. The agreement 
obtained by the Anglo-Russian Commission was still more 
remarkable, and thus made the work accomplished in the 
deserts of Africa, amid dangers of every kind, more perfect 
than any previous geodetic operation. 

The accuracy of this unprecedented result was greeted 
by the astronomers with repeated cheers. | 

According to Palander’s reductions, the value of a 
degree in this part of the world was 57037 toises. This 
was within a toise, the same as was found by Lacaille at 
the Cape in 1752: thus, at the interval of a century, the 
French astronomer and the members of the Anglo-Russian 
Commission had arrived at almost exactly the same result, 


* 





















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































[Page 229. ] 


1. — 


. 


Descending the Zambes 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 229 


To deduce the value of the métre, they would have to wait 
the issue of the operations which were to be afterwards 
undertaken in the northern hemisphere. This value was 
to be the +gocsaao Of the quadrant of the terrestrial 
meridian. According to previous calculations, the quadrant, 
taking the depression of the earth into account, comprised 
10,000,856 metres, which brought the exact length of the 
métre to .013074 of a toise, or 3 feet o inches 11.296 lines. 
Whether this was correct the subsequent labours of the 


Commission would have to decide. 
* * *% & * 





The astronomers had now entirely finished their task, 
and it only remained for them to reach the mouth of the 
Zambesi, by following inversely the route afterwards taken 
by Dr. Livingstone in his second voyage from 1858 to 
1864. 

On the 25th of May, after a somewhat laborious journey 
across a country intersected with rivers, they reached the 
Victoria Falls. These fine cataracts fully justified their 
native name, which signifies “sounding smoke.” Sheets of 
water a mile wide, crowned with a double rainbow, rushed 
from a height twice that of Niagara. Across the deep basalt 
chasm the enormous torrent produced a roar like peal 
after peal of thunder. 

Below the cataract, where the river regained its calmness, 


the steamboat, which had arrived a fortnight previously by 


VARA ETS 


230 MERIDIANA; THE ADVENTURES OF 


an inferior affluent of the Zambesi, awaited the astronomers, 
who soon took their places on board. - 23 

There were two to be left behind. Mokoum and the 
pioneer stood on the bank. In Mokoum the English were 
leaving, not only a devoted guide, but one whom they 
might call a friend. Sir John was especially sorry to part 
from him, and had offered to take him to Europe, and 
there entertain him as long as he pleased to remain. But 
Mokoum had previous engagements; in fact, he was to 
accompany Livingstone on the second voyage which the 
brave traveller was about to undertake up the Zambesi, and 
Mokoum was not a man to depart from his word. He was 
presented with a substantial recompense, and, what he prized 
still more, the kind assurances of regard of the Europeans, 
who acknowledged how much they owed to him. As the 
steamer left the shore to take the current in the middle 
of the river, Sir John’s last gesture was to wave an adieu to 
his associate. , 

The descent of the great river, whose banks were dotted 
with numerous villages, was soon accomplished. The 
natives, regarding with superstitious admiration the smoking 
vessel as it moved by mysterious mechanism, made ho 
attempt to obstruct its progress. 

On the 15th of June the Colonel and his companions © 
arrived at Quilimane, one of the principal towns at the 


mouth of the Zambesi. Their first thought was to ask for | 

































































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The Natives regarded with superstitious adm#ration the 
[Page 230.]} 





smoking vessel. 





PEERY 


THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS. 231 


news of the war. They found that it had not yet come to 
a termination, and that Sebastopol was still holding out 
.against the allied armies. This was a disappointment to 
the Europeans, now so united in one scientific object ; 
but they received the intelligence in silence, and prepared 
to start. An Austrian merchant-vessel, “La Novara,” was 
just setting out for Suez ;‘in that they resolved to take their 
passage. | 
Three days after, as they were on the point of embarking, 
the Colonel assembled his colleagues, and in a calm voice 
reminded them how in the last eighteen months they had 
together experienced many trials, and how they had been 
rewarded by accomplishing a work which would call forth 
‘the admiration of all scientific Europe. He could not 
refrain from giving expression to his trust that they would 
feel themselves bound inthe common fellowship of a true 
alliance, | 
Strux bowed slightly, but did not interrupt the Colonel, 
who proceeded to deplore the tidings of the continuation of 
warfare. When he referred to the expected capitulation 
of Sebastopol, Strux indignantly rejected the possibility of 
such an event, which no union of France and England, he 
- maintained, could ever effect. 
There was, however, it was admitted on all hands, a pro- 
priety in the Russians and English submitting to the national 
status of hostility. The necessities of their position were thus 


232 MERIDIANA. 





clearly defined, and under these conditions they embarked 
in company on board “La Novara.” | 

In a few days they arrived at Suez. At the moment of 
separation Emery grasped Zorn’s hand, and said,— 

“We are always friends, Michael !” 

“Always and every where, William!” ejaculated Zorn ; 
and with this sentiment of mutual devotion they parted. 

The Commission was dissolved. 


THE END 


oy ed 


Ae CALPE AT? Sh O RY 


— BY — 


JULES VERNE, 


Author of “A Fourney to the Centre of the ” Rarth, 2 


In 97 Hours, 20 Minutes, 
AND A “TRIP: AROUND IT: 


EIGHTY FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. 
One vol., 12mo, bevelled boards, $3.00. 


This is one of the most stirring and exciting of Jules Verne’s famous 
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tremendous results of this explosion; the rush through space of the 


' shell and its passengers; the extent to which they were able to con- 


quer the laws of gravitation, and the results of their extraordinary 
exploit, make up as thrilling a series of adventures as the fancy of this 
very imaginative French author is capable of painting. Numerous facts 
in philosophy, astronomy, and other sciences, are woven into the story, 
which is spiced with not a little good-humored satire upon American 
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the United States. 

(Gs Sent post-paid on receipt of price, by the Publishers, 


SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & CO.,, 
654 Broadway, New York. 


i {4 


INSTRUCTIVE, FASCINATING, POWERFUL, 





A JOURNEY 


TO THE 


CENTRE OF THE EARTH 


‘TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF 


JULES VERNE, 


Author of “Journey from the Earth to the Moon” and 


“THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND,” 


NOW BEING PUBLISHED IN SCRIBNER S MONTHLY, 





THE character of this work is such as to add lustre to the fame of this 
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.SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & CO., 
654 Broadway, N. y; 


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